Understanding Human Cognition
Introduction
Human cognition refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension. These processes include thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving. These are higher-level functions of the brain and encompass language, imagination, perception, and planning. A central aspect of human cognition is that it is a process that is embedded in a broader social context, which means that it is always influenced by social and cultural factors.
Cognitive Processes
Cognition is a term referring to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension. These cognitive processes include thinking, remembering, problem-solving, and decision-making. This is to say, cognition is more than just an accumulation of facts or information - it is also the process of thinking about this information, manipulating it, and using it to guide behavior and decision making.
Thinking
Thinking is a cognitive process in which information is processed in various forms, such as concepts, ideas, thoughts, impressions, memories, etc. It is a higher cognitive function and the process of thinking involves the manipulation of information already stored in the brain. Thinking can be either directed, as in problem-solving, or undirected, as in daydreaming.
Memory
Memory is the cognitive process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information. Encoding is the process of receiving information and converting it into a form that can be stored and recalled later. Storing is the process of placing encoded information into memory for later recall. Retrieving is the process of recalling information stored in memory.
Problem Solving
Problem-solving is a cognitive process that involves identifying, analyzing, and solving problems. The ultimate goal of problem-solving is to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the issue. The steps of the problem-solving process include identifying the problem, defining the problem, formulating a strategy, organizing information about the problem, allocating resources, monitoring progress, and evaluating the solution.
Decision Making
Decision-making is the cognitive process resulting in the selection of a belief or a course of action among several alternative possibilities. Decision-making is the process of making choices by identifying a decision, gathering information, and assessing alternative resolutions.
Cognitive Development
Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem-solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. It involves the development of both innate abilities, such as vision and reflexes, and complex cognitive processes, such as thinking, memory, and language.
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mental processes such as "attention, language use, memory, perception, problem-solving, creativity, and thinking". Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology that investigates internal mental processes such as problem-solving, memory, and language.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific field that is concerned with the study of the biological processes and aspects that underlie cognition, with a specific focus on the neural connections in the brain which are involved in mental processes.
Cognitive Disorders
Cognitive disorders, also known as neurocognitive disorders, are a category of mental health disorders that primarily affect cognitive abilities including learning, memory, perception, and problem-solving.