what-are-cognitive-abilities/

 First of all, what is cognition? Cognition has to do with how a person understands the world and acts in it. It is the set of mental abilities or processes that are part of nearly every human action while we are awake. Cognitive abilities are brain-based skills we need to carry out any task from the simplest to the most complex. They have more to do with the mechanisms of how we learn, remember, problem-solve, and pay attention, rather than with any actual knowledge. For instance, answering the telephone involves perception (hearing the ring tone), decision taking (answering or not), motor skill (lifting the receiver), language skills (talking and understanding language), social skills (interpreting tone of voice and interacting properly with another human being). Cognitive abilities or skills are supported by specific neuronal networks. For instance memory skills rely mainly on parts of the temporal lobes and parts of the frontal lobes (behind the forehead). In the table below, you can browse through the main brain functions involved in cognition. You will also find brain teasers that will help you exercise the cognitive abilities described. I hope you enjoy it…and have fun!Perception Recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli (smell, touch, hearing, etc.) Brain teasers: Is this a circle? Test your Brain with these 10 Visual Illusions Attention Ability to sustain concentration on a particular object, action, or thought, and ability to manage competing demands in our environment. Brain challenges: Brain teasers to flex two key men­tal mus­cles: atten­tion and work­ing memory Memory Short-term/ working memory (limited storage), and Long-term memory (unlimited storage). Brain teaser: Can you iden­tify Apple’s logo? Motor skills Ability to mobilize our muscles and bodies, and ability to manipulate objects. Brain challenges: Tap your right hand on the table. At the same time, make a circular movement with your left hand (as if you were cleaning the table) Do the same, switching hands-read more