Cognitive functions are a set of mental processes that provide a person’s ability to cognize, learn, remember, analyze information and make decisions. They are the basis of intellectual activity and include memory, attention, language, thinking, perception and executive functions (planning, control, organization of actions).
Main cognitive functions:
| Function | Definition |
| Perception (gnosis) | The ability to perceive and recognize information coming from the senses |
| Memory | The ability to remember, store and repeatedly reproduce the information received |
| Psychomotor function (praxis) | Ability to fold, store and execute motor programs |
| Tongue | Ability to communicate verbally, including understanding the addressed language, constructing one’s own linguistic expression, reading and writing |
| Attention | The ability to respond in a timely manner to signals coming from the senses, to concentrate and maintain mental performance for the required time, to separate information flows |
| Control functions | Ability to plan and control cognitive activity and behavior, including goal selection (goal-setting), program design (programming), transition from one stage of the program to another (switching, intellectual flexibility) and comparison of the result with the goal (control) |
| Social Intelligence | Ability to understand other people’s emotions and logic |
Cognitive function can be impaired due to stress, overwork, disease, brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s), or age-related changes. To maintain and improve cognitive functions, it is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle: regularly engage in physical activity, maintain brain activity