cognitive faculties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cognitive faculties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing mental processes, abilities, or functions related to thinking, learning, and understanding. Example: "The study aimed to explore how different activities can enhance cognitive faculties in children."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Second, a principle underlying Auriol's theory of cognition is that cognitive faculties are fundamentally active.

SEP

They are clearly angry, and are seen to be less in control of their cognitive faculties.

The Guardian

Similarly, both music and speaking activate the ears, but again these are entirely different cognitive faculties.

The Washington Post

Inevitably, the results of these studies invite comparison with our own cognitive faculties.

The New York Times

Lateralization is an important aspect of the functional brain architecture for language and other cognitive faculties.

Cortex

Nonetheless, by the time we reach our 60s, most of us have developed some concerns about losing our cognitive faculties.

The Washington Post

Both spatial information and reading occur with the eyes, but they make use of entirely different cognitive faculties.

The Washington Post

But anyone who has the cognitive faculties to purchase, set up and operate modern games consoles won't have trouble differentiating between a cartoonish fantasy world and reality".

The Guardian

The assessment, covered by health insurance in some cases, typically begins with a clinic-based test of a driver's eyesight, hearing and cognitive faculties.

The New York Times

Thanks to those programs, these days television is "enhancing our cognitive faculties, not dumbing them down," as Steven Johnson wrote in The Times Magazine in 2005.

The New York Times

While the participants said they felt awake after two-thirds of an hour, their cognitive faculties didn't entirely catch up for several hours.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing specific cognitive abilities, such as memory or attention, use "cognitive faculties" to encompass the broad range of mental functions. For more focused discussions, use specific terms like "memory", "attention span", or "reasoning skills".

Common error

Avoid using "cognitive faculties" when referring to purely emotional or sensory experiences. Reserve this term for processes directly related to thinking, learning, and understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cognitive faculties" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it correctly refers to a collection of mental capabilities. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in academic and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cognitive faculties" is a grammatically sound and widely used noun phrase that effectively represents the range of mental abilities related to thinking, learning, and understanding. As Ludwig confirms, it is frequently employed in scientific, academic, and media contexts. While versatile, it's important to maintain clarity by avoiding its use in non-cognitive contexts, such as emotional or purely sensory experiences. When appropriate, synonyms like "cognitive abilities" or "mental capacities" can offer suitable alternatives. Overall, understanding the nuances of "cognitive faculties" allows for precise and effective communication regarding mental processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cognitive abilities

Replaces 'faculties' with 'abilities', a more common and general term for mental capabilities.

mental capacities

Substitutes both 'cognitive' with 'mental' and 'faculties' with 'capacities', focusing on the inherent potential of the mind.

intellectual capabilities

Uses 'intellectual' instead of 'cognitive', highlighting the reasoning and knowledge-based aspects of mental function, and swaps 'faculties' with 'capabilities'.

mental functions

Replaces 'faculties' with 'functions', emphasizing the operational aspects of the mind.

thinking skills

Offers a more simplified and direct alternative, focusing on the skills related to thinking and processing information.

cognitive processes

Shifts the focus to the processes involved in cognition, rather than the specific abilities themselves.

brain functions

Focuses on the biological aspect of cognition by referring to brain functions instead of general cognitive abilities.

mental prowess

Implies a high degree of skill and expertise in mental tasks, suggesting superior cognitive function.

reasoning abilities

Limits the scope to reasoning, a specific and important aspect of cognitive function.

intellectual resources

Views cognitive capabilities as resources or assets that can be utilized.

FAQs

How can I use "cognitive faculties" in a sentence?

You can use "cognitive faculties" to refer to mental abilities related to thinking, learning, and understanding. For instance, "The study aimed to assess the impact of meditation on cognitive faculties".

What are some synonyms for "cognitive faculties"?

Alternatives include "cognitive abilities", "mental capacities", or "intellectual capabilities". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "cognitive faculty" instead of "cognitive faculties"?

While "cognitive faculty" can be used in a singular sense to refer to a specific mental ability, "cognitive faculties" is more common when discussing the range of mental capabilities collectively. Example: 'Memory is one cognitive faculty'.

What's the difference between "cognitive faculties" and "intellect"?

"Cognitive faculties" refers to the broad set of mental abilities, while "intellect" often implies higher-level reasoning, understanding, and knowledge. Intellect can be seen as a more refined application of "cognitive faculties".