Cognitive habilyties

Cognitive skills are abilities related to information processing . These allow better management of memory, understanding, attention, perception and also with problem solving. They are capabilities that promote the ease of performing analysis between analogies. It is also a useful tool for memorization.

People who possess these skills are considered to have complete and even superior organizational skills . It is one of the essential requirements for the proper information process, and later with communication. The understanding of a broader vocabulary is greatly increased, the reception level makes it possible to identify visual and audible information.

What are cognitive skills?

Cognitive functions are important because they describe mental processes , these allow the brain to function and work; using information that has been acquired through perception.

Cognitive abilities are defined as the capacities that human beings possess to speed up the processing of information. These are attitudes that are related to perception, memory and creativity mainly. The most important thing is that these skills allow a better handling of abstract thinking , also called analog .

Taking into consideration that mental processes are complex, as well as abstract, consequently, thought depends on the capture of certain external stimuli.

Their interpretation goes hand in hand with information that is stored in memory, their subsequent analysis or translation is adapted to a system of concepts and values .

So these skills work as a response that is adjusted to each circumstance . Learning and experience are directly related to the cognitive abilities of each individual. Adequate development depends on the performance of complex tasks and in situations where the ability to solve problems is of vital importance.

Characteristics of cognitive abilities 

The characteristics of cognitive abilities are dictated by a set of intellectual abilities . These are specific because they are used at certain times and allow generating reactions that correspond equally. What they are is described below:

• Forecasting describes the ability to evaluate the implications and consequences of an action. This is how it is possible to anticipate the possible inconveniences that may occur in the future. This is an essential characteristic for survival and also integration at the social level.
• The plan describes the ability to foresee the consequences of actions before they are made. Before choosing, goals and objectives are set taking into consideration the effects of said actions.
• Evaluation is a process in which the appropriateness of actions is analyzed and judged . It also makes it possible to realize a possible danger or the viability of achieving the desired goal. You can correct or change a behavior or action.
• Innovation is a capacity that describes the ease of finding alternatives or different paths in the search for solving problems. It depends on past experiences and memories, it is an evolutionary understanding process in which abstract thinking begins to formulate solutions.

How can you observe cognitive abilities , they have been the tools that have guaranteed the survival of human beings, since their origins. It is an essential part of the intellectual development of the individual, they are those that operate on the information that has been collected through the physical senses.

Types and examples of cognitive skills 

There are different types, some of them are considered essential to be able to carry out daily activities. This is due to the fact that they intervene in the decision-making process , also only an important part for the adequate intellectual development. Some of these skills are described below:

• Attention is an ability that allows you to capture details in a precise way
• Understanding is a complex process in which what has been captured is analyzed. This is how a conclusion is drawn up by applying specific criteria for its translation.
• Elaboration is the formulation of one’s own criteria in response to what has been perceived.
• Recovery is a memorization capacity, it serves to support future arguments based on previous experiences. A comparison process is carried out with respect to situations that have similarities, what has been learned serves as a guide.
• Metacognitive skills are those that describe abilities that do not conform to a perceived reality . They are cognitive processes of thought that allow control, explanation and transmission; of what has been lived. In other words, these are complex skills whose goal is to represent your own ideas.
• Memory is described as a capacity for storing and retrieving information that has been acquired through experience. Also included is coding in which both short-term and long-term sensory capacities are involved.
• The language is a complex system of codes to which is assigned meanings to describe their actions and qualities for example.
• Gnosis is a capacity of the brain that allows to recognize information from the praxis, these are organized movements.

There are several examples that allow a better understanding of the usefulness of cognitive skills. Mainly these are related to logical reasoning, that is, the capacity for deduction. Here are some examples of this type:

• Linguistic ability is basically the proper handling of different language systems. This is how there is greater precision in the representation of sounds and writing, the syntax and the lexicon are included.
• The capacity of attention describes the perception of all the details and changes that happen in the environment. This includes processes such as selectivity and concentration.
• The capacity for abstraction is considered a talent, since from it systems of signs that have a certain level of complexity are built and interpreted. In addition, it can be analyzed and translated using operations such as reasoning or arithmetic or spatial orientation.
• The deductive capacity describes the inference that is made from the information patterns. Examples of this type are logical and intuitive reasoning.

Advantages of possessing cognitive abilities 

Human beings depend on them to be able to process information of different kinds. To have a better management of cognitive skills, it is recommended to put into practice certain physical and mental exercises .

Games as well as the practice of sports activities, artistic activities, attention exercises and educational activities; all together intervene for an adequate development of cognitive abilities.

These are mental processes that allow us to process and also elaborate information , this is how we have a better understanding about the world around us. They are used constantly because they allow us to learn and also remember information, and they also intervene in the personal identification process.

Virtually all activities carried out by human beings require the use of these capacities. When these are being used in turn in the brain, millions of neuronal connections are being generated , these activate different areas of the brain organ. This is how people react by adjusting to the circumstances after they have processed this information.