Neurocognitive System:
« Back to Glossary IndexNeurocognitive system, part of the central nervous system (CNS) and centered in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), is a complex network of interconnected neurons, neural pathways, and brain regions involved in conducting cognitive functions, including cognitive control (or executive function/EF) and social cognition. Neurocognitive mechanisms are the biological basis for three EF domains:
- Representing/maintaining goals and context: The first domain is how we use language to define ourselves and others in work/social situations that require communication, through three complex processes. They are working memory updating (WMU), language processing, and monitoring progress.
- Strategic processes: The second domain requires us to make choices that can aid our wellbeing, including stimulus-response (S-R) mapping and attention allocation.
- Control components: The third domain includes wide-ranging neurocognitive processes, not restricted to any particular domain. They are response selection, inhibitory control, task shifting, and cognitive shifting.
