What Is Cognition In Simple Terms? | What Is The Difference Between Cognition And Thinking?

What is cognition in simple terms, AND What is the difference between cognition and thinking? In this video, you’ll hear from Master Level Certified Cognitive Coach Andrea Pitman as she explains how our brain processes information just like a computer.

Check out the full conversation about neuroscience and substance use and addiction below👇

Learn more about Andrea Pitman and The Nectar Group👇

Cognition is another word for your thinking processes.

You can think of your brain like a computer. Cognition is like the computer’s processor. The processor runs in the background at all times. This processor allows you to take information in, store that information, retrieve it, and make sense of it.

Cognition includes the following thought processes:

Memory
Association
Attention
Recognizing patterns
Problem-solving
Decision-making
Language
Perception

Substance abuse can damage the neural pathways of the brain responsible for cognitive functions.

Damage or deficits in cognition can lead to impairments in learning and can even impact your mental health. Alcohol and drug abuse can lead to these impairments in brain function, which lead to cognitive issues.

Cognition depends on the development of specific brain structures and neural pathways. The connectivity of brain circuits via neural pathways allows the brain to pass chemicals like dopamine and other “feel good” chemicals within your brain’s reward system.

Neuroscience has proven that drug-taking, alcohol abuse, and other addictive behaviors disrupt cognition and learning.

What Are The Three Tiers Of Cognition?
The three levels of cognition are basic cognitive skills, learning, and executive brain functions.

You can think of cognition as a pyramid of skills, where the basic level supports the higher ones coming next. Without a solid base, the higher-order skills will not develop fully or will be impaired.

The first tier of cognition is the basic cognitive skills, like processing information, attention, short-term and long-term memory, and other basic skills.

Impairments in these basic cognitive areas can cause learning disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD. Some are born with these impairments. These areas can also be damaged by drug and alcohol abuse or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The second tier of cognition is learning. When you have issues with basic skills, like memory and attention, learning is difficult. To learn, you need learning skills like studying and test-taking.

Without first addressing the basic deficits, you will struggle to get the skills needed to acquire knowledge and learn.

Executive brain functions are the third tier of cognition. These skills are one of the last parts developed in the human brain. Executive skills occur in the prefrontal cortex, and these brain regions develop during teen years and into young adulthood.

Executive functions include things like time management, organization, prioritization, critical thinking, analytical skills, and decision-making.

Impairments at the first tier lead to further issues in building the next two tiers. The basic skills are needed to move into the next tier of learning. When you struggle to learn, you will struggle to make decisions. Building a strong base is crucial to healthy brain development.

#addictionhelp
#Mentalhealthpodcast
#Sobertribe

[shreyasarkar]

the fist half the video is nonsense conversation and then there is like 15 seconds of "making an attempt" to explain cognition poorly, and then after that again its al about contacting them