ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to clarify what cognition is, and define key cognitive 'skills' and functions including: attention, memory, problem solving, and creativity. It explores the nature of perception and its links to cognition and action, and how this determines the way in which the performer interacts with their environment. At a broad level cognition refers to the higher order functions of the brain. It usually is considered to be a combination of skills including: attention, learning, memory, language, praxis; and so-called executive functions, such as decision-making, goal setting, planning, problem solving, and creativity. Perception involves detecting and interpreting changes in various forms of energy flowing through the environment such as light rays, sound waves, and neural activation. Understanding the mechanisms that underpin the links between perception and action is also important to help to maximize preparation for, and performance in the 'real' performance domain.
