Cognition can be defined as the process of knowing (Gazzaniga, Ivry & Mangun 2009). This process involves how we receive information and make sense of it, how we store it for future use and use it to make decisions. When we see a glass of water, our eyes take-in the image, our brain interprets it as a glass of water assisted by our memory of what a glass of water looks like, and we make a decision about whether to drink it or not. The diagram below illustrates the main cognitive processes:
Attention – the process by which we take-in information.
Information Processing – the process by which we control the information coming to us.
Memory – the process by which we store information to use a later time.
Executive Function – the process by which we use the information to plan, organise, and make decisions.
Page last reviewed: 15 Jul 2022
