What is cognition?

Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. It encompasses various functions such as perception, attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Answering that cognition is a conscious process of awareness and understanding highlights its role in how we interpret information and engage with our surroundings.

While movement and physical actions pertain to motor functions, emotional intelligence involves recognizing and managing emotions, which, although important, do not fundamentally define cognition. Similarly, physical responses to environmental stimuli are related to reflexes and sensory processing rather than the higher-level processes of cognition. Therefore, understanding cognition as a deliberate process tied to awareness and understanding underscores its significance in brain function and behavior.