Definition
Cognition
Cognition refers to the set of all mental activities and processes associated with gaining knowledge and understanding. It encompasses every aspect of our intellectual functions and experiences - thinking, remembering, perceiving, communicating, and problem-solving.
4E
Embodied
Cognition is shaped and influenced by the nature of our physical bodies. Our sensimotor capabilities are not just inputs and outputs but are integral to thought itself.
Embedded
Cognition is not an isolated process but functions in a specific environmental context. The environment is not just a problem to be solved but a resource to be used.
Enactive
Cognition is not about creating internal representations of the world but is a form of “sense-making” that arises from the dynamic interaction between an agent and its environment.
Extended
Cognitive processes can literally extend beyond the brain and body into the environment, using tools like notebooks, smartphones, or even language itself as part of the cognitive system.