Cognition
/kɒɡˈnɪʃən/
Definitions
The mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension.
/kɒɡˈnɪʃən/
The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
Improved cognition was observed after the patients started the new medication.
💡 Simply: Cognition is your brain's way of knowing and understanding things. It's like a computer processing information – you see, hear, feel, and then your brain figures it out! For example, recognizing your friend's face uses cognition.
👶 For kids: It's how your brain learns and thinks!
More Examples
The test measured various aspects of human cognition, including memory and problem-solving.
How It's Used
"The study explored the effects of sleep deprivation on cognition."
"Damage to the frontal lobe can impair higher-order cognition."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin 'cognitio', meaning 'knowing, recognition', from 'cognoscere' (to know).
The term has been used in philosophy and psychology for centuries, gaining more precise meaning with the rise of cognitive science.
Memory tip
Think 'cog' as in a gear, representing the mental processes working together.
Word Origin
"knowing, recognition"