- Cognition refers to the workings of the mind through which we are able to make sense of the world (Zoltan 1996).
- Cognition or cognitive processes refer to the ways in which we know the world around us through attention, memory and problem-solving and decision making processes (Gross 2020).
- Memory involves the encoding, consolidation, storage and retrieval of information and may be maintained for short or longer periods of time (Purves, et al. 2008).
- Attention is the ability to attend to some things while ignoring others and can be voluntary or automatic (Gazzaniga, Ivry & Mangun 2009).
- The way we learn and behave depends on our ability to pay attention, to retain and retrieve information and to use this information to solve problems and use language. Without these abilities we would not be able to respond to new situations (Lyon 1996).
- For full references see the Additional Information box below.
Cognition can be broadly divided into three areas: attention, memory and executive function. Select the hotspots on the diagram below to see a definition of each.
Executive Function: A set of skills required for problem solving, planning and organisation, self-monitoring, initiation, error correction and regulating behaviour. (Evans 2003).
Memory: The persistent acquisition of new information which can be accessed at a later time. (Gazzaniga, Ivry, Magnum 2002).
Attention: The ability to respond to selected stimuli while not responding to simultaneous irrelevant stimuli. (Lincoln, Majid and Weyman 2000).
Page last reviewed: 31 Jan 2024
