How Do Cognition Work?
Cognition is the human mind. For example, if you read this article, your brain filters out unnecessary information and stores useful information. In order for this process to run smoothly, different areas of the brain work together. They ensure that what you see, hear, say, feel and taste is channeled to the highest regions of our brain, where we direct our thinking power. At least, we think so.
What is Cognition?
The ancient Romans use the word cognoscere for what we know and know. The word cognition comes from there. Cognition includes perception, attention and concentration, memory, language, and speed of information processing.
Our thinking ability does not go to work by itself. It is controlled from the front part of our brain, the prefrontal cortex. In this control center are the higher cognitive functions - called executive functions - that efficiently and effectively plan and elaborate thinking steps. They are partly at the basis of intelligent behavior, social insight and your learning ability.
How is it possible that you don't remember everything?
Information that comes in makes a kind of journey through the brain to different places. We know this thanks to the observation and brain analysis of the world-famous patient Henry Molaison (HM). He lost his memory when he was a little boy as a result of brain surgery after a collision. HM's brain is the longest studied brain in psychology and was cut into a whopping 2,401 ultra-thin slices after his death. Thanks to HM, researchers now know how sensory information is stored in memory. There appear to be different types of memory that store information for a shorter or longer time.
How can you research cognition?
Two important techniques for examining the brain are EEG and fMRI. We know thanks to the EEG study that any form of telephone distraction worsens attention . In addition, people are given a kind of bathing cap with electrodes that can register brain waves. In the study of telephone use and noise in traffic, scientists see alpha waves in many participants. Such waves in the brain indicate that you are not well focused.
What is the effect of alcohol on cognition?
Whether you are a heavy drinker or drink a few glasses a week: alcohol is not good for cognitive functions. Drinking affects the memory area around the hippocampus. More precisely: the so-called corpora mamillaria die when drinking excessively. Because these areas are connected to the hippocampus, this has an effect on your memory, for example in people who have Wernicke Korsakov's syndrome. Heavy drinkers can therefore tell convincing but false stories.
