The 9 Cognitive Domains
Cognition refers to how we think, understand, and remember information. It can be described in domains—such as perception, memory, and executive function—or grouped by the brain regions that support each skill. Neuropsychologists use assessment batteries to measure these areas, identify strengths, and detect patterns that may signal neurological or psychiatric conditions.
Sensation & Perception
- Sensation is how we notice the world through sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
- Perception interprets those sensations so we recognize familiar objects or sounds.
- Hemi-neglect illustrates how perception can break down: a person may see or feel something on one side of their visual field but not know it is there.
Motor Skills
Motor skills cover how we move our bodies—from fine motor tasks, like writing or buttoning a shirt, to larger movements requiring balance. Evaluations often ask individuals to perform the same task with both hands to see whether difficulties stem from motor control or understanding instructions before testing more complex abilities.
Attention & Concentration
Attention has two key components:
- Selective attention filters what matters and tunes out distractions.
- Sustained attention helps us stay focused over time.
These abilities support almost every other cognitive task.
Processing Speed
Processing speed reflects how quickly we complete simple or complex tasks. It is commonly affected in severe mental illness (such as schizophrenia or major depression) and in neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's disease and dementia. Slowed processing can make everyday activities feel more effortful.
Working Memory
Working memory is the brain's temporary workspace. It holds information we need right now—like numbers in a math problem—while we manipulate or update it. The capacity is limited, so strategies like chunking or note taking often help.
Language
Language skills involve understanding words, expressing ideas, following verbal instructions, and naming objects. Aphasia describes difficulty with language and can occur after brain injury, stroke, or in degenerative conditions. Assessments measure fluency, comprehension, and repetition to pinpoint challenges.
Visuospatial Construction
Visuospatial skills allow us to perceive spatial relationships and reproduce designs. Conditions that affect the right hemisphere or parietal lobe—such as certain dementias—can make drawing or navigating environments difficult.
Episodic Memory
Episodic memory stores personal experiences through three processes:
- Encoding transfers information from working memory for longer storage.
- Storage keeps that information available over time.
- Retrieval brings it back, either freely or with prompts.
Understanding which process is disrupted guides tailored memory supports.
Executive Functioning
Executive functions help us solve problems, plan, organize, and adapt. They rely on the frontal lobes and the white matter pathways that connect brain regions. Difficulties can appear as impulsivity, rigid thinking, or trouble juggling tasks. They are common in ADHD, certain dementias, schizophrenia, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.