Question

driving a car, choosing what to have for lunch, speaking with a colleague, or other normal work functions

How do these cognitive processes help you adapt to your environment?

Answer 1

• A harmonious interaction between cognitive processes is fundamental so that we can analyze reality adequately and adapt to it. Thanks to mental processes we can be flexible to changes and demands of the situation. Our executive functions are in charge of coordinating these processes.
• We are capable of centering our attention to the stimuli that interest us,so when driving a car or speaking to a colleague requires us to focus our attention on them to able to understand what the person is speaking and what directions to follow while driving.
• At first learning to drive and focus on all the things one must do is difficult but after a while, it is done naturally and without thinking.
• We are continuously using our perception without even noticing it. We are conscious of other people’s movements, messages we receive on our phone, food flavors, our posture, etc. The way we choose our food options also depends upon how we perceive the options and then decide to choose the one we like.Once we see the food option,the information goes from our senses,we receive the information,perception takes over and we start interpreting these stimuli. The food which looks attractive and delicious also grabs our attention and sometimes choose that option to eat.
• all the other normal functions,of remembering the shopping list,choosing the television program to watch etc. makes use of our cognitive processes.Without these processes we wont be able to remember information,understand it and make use of it.We would not be able to make sense of our world and people around us.