Neurocognitive

Neurocognitive refers to the study and characterization of cognitive functions that arise from brain activity. It encompasses processes such as perception, attention, memory, language, visuospatial processing, executive function, and social cognition, and investigates how these abilities emerge from neural circuits across cortical and subcortical regions.

Researchers in cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and neurology use a range of methods to study neurocognition, including neuropsychological testing, electrophysiology, and neuroimaging (MRI, fMRI, PET). Behavioral tasks quantify domains; imaging reveals brain structure and function; electrophysiology measures the timing and dynamics of neural activity.

In clinical contexts, neurocognition informs the assessment of cognitive status across aging and disease. Major and mild neurocognitive disorders describe significant cognitive decline that interferes with independence. Neurocognitive impairment can follow stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. Rehabilitation and cognitive training aim to improve or compensate for deficits, while pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches address underlying pathology and function.

The field also intersects with education and human factors, emphasizing how brain function relates to learning, memory strategies, attention management, and decision-making in everyday life.