0Let's first understand the concept of cognition. Cognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding it through thoughts, experiences, and the senses. Cognitive functioning refers to an individual's s aptitude to perform various mental activities related to learning and problem solving.
The ability to learn new information, remember it, express and explain it, and apply it in real life is what cognition is all about. Human beings have an innate cognitive function since birth. Our brains are capable of learning and remembering new skills; however, these capabilities may differ by person to person. Early childhood is the most ideal period to absorb and apply new information.
The three basic tasks our brain has to perform include absorbing the incoming information, preserving it in the knowledge bank, and using it whenever needed. The core skills our brain uses to pay attention, read, learn, think, understand, remember, and reason can be defined as the cognitive skills. These skills are essential for carrying out from the simplest to the most complex tasks at different points in our life.
Perception, attention, memory, motor skills, language, visual and sensory processing, and executive functions are the most important brain functions or cognitive skills that every human being requires and uses. Each cognitive skill plays a vital part in processing new information. If any one of them is weak, this hampers brain functions; leading to most learning struggles and attention deficit issues.
Even though cognitive skill development is determined by a child's genetic character, most cognitive skills are learned! This means, cognitive skills can be developed and improved with practice and training. Contemporary science has opened up powerful new possibilities for those who struggle to learn or want to gain a competitive edge. Poor learning and reading need not be a lifelong problem anymore.
