Kognicion

Kognicion is the set of mental processes by which humans and other beings acquire knowledge, understand, and interpret the world. It encompasses perception, attention, memory, language, learning, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. These processes enable encoding, storage, and retrieval of information, allowing individuals to plan actions, solve problems, and adapt to changing circumstances. Kognicion operates across conscious and unconscious levels and is shaped by both biology and experience.

The study of kognicion spans philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and computer science. The cognitive revolution of the mid-20th century reframed the field from solely observable behavior to internal representations and computations. Researchers use experimental methods, neuroimaging, and computational models to explore how information is processed from sensory input to higher-level thought. Core components include perception and attention, memory systems (sensory, working, and long-term memory), language, learning, and executive functions such as planning and cognitive control. Different approaches emphasize different aspects, from the neural networks that support cognition to the symbolic and algorithmic processes that underlie reasoning.

Applications of kognicion research include education, clinical assessment and intervention (for conditions such as dementia or learning disabilities), and the design of human–computer interfaces and educational technologies. Etymologically, cognición/kognicion refers to the same broad concept across languages, with variations in spelling. In some contexts, kognicion may appear as a transliteration or as a proper noun, but generally it denotes the study and practice of cognitive processes that underlie knowledge and intelligent behavior.