mentation

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'mentation' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is defined as the process of thinking or using the mind. Example: Many philosophers and scientists have dedicated their lives to studying human mentation and how it affects behavior and decision-making.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Precautions are taken in the case of open wounds, hypertension, poor sensation, aversion to cold, poor mentation, prolonged application over a superficial nerve, and patients who are very young or very old.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(Even our language begins to fail in this description. Dementia describes a breakdown of "mentation" — thinking — but we lack a similar word for a degeneration of mood: is it disaffection?) And how, exactly, might the death of neurons in the tiny caul of the hippocampus (a part of the brain typically associated with the storage of memory) cause this disorder of mood?

The New York Times - Magazine

But since Ohlin's novel lies stiffened in a morgue of mentation — since it relishes the Harlequin mauling of women and men — the inside on promiscuous display here is the inside of her characters' precious hearts.

The New York Times - Books

"Because our culture so highly values... an illusion of self-control and control of circumstance, we become abject when contemplating mentation that seems more changeable, less restrained and less controllable, more open to outside influence, than we imagine our own to be".

The New York Times - Magazine

While faulting Ohlin for the purported wretchedness of her metaphors, he squeezes out such memorable phrases as "flies around like kites in a waning zephyr," "stiffened in a morgue of mentation" and "the cosmos takes on a coruscated import".

The New York Times - Books

Unconscious psychic processes refer to feelings, desires, images, fantasies, etc., that occur outside of awareness and likely have a determining influence on our conscious mentation and behavior.

The New York Times

"You can trigger a sleep terror de novo, from nothing -- just the sound of a doorbell or a buzzer from a six-volt battery -- which means it's not a climax of ongoing dreamlike mentation.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Recent research in women revealed that long-term supple-mentation with vitamin D appears to reduce risk of death due to heart disease by about a third.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The attainment of cessation, then, is simply a temporary state of non-mentation.

SEP

Neither the theory of appropriation nor that of seeds in the mental stream seem to offer a satisfactory account of non-mentation.

SEP

In the first installment, Schubert's "Quartettsatz" is paired with Bruce Adolphe's "Fra nz g-mentation," and Bach's Contrapunctus XIII, Fra nz g-mentation," is linked with SofianduBachulina's "RefleContrapunctus Theme of B-A-C-H".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mentation" in formal writing or academic contexts when you need a precise term for mental activity or the process of thinking. This adds a layer of sophistication to your vocabulary.

Common error

While "mentation" is a valid term, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual conversation or informal writing. Choose simpler synonyms like "thinking" or "thought process" in these situations.

Linguistic Context

The noun "mentation" functions as a term to describe mental activity or the process of thinking. Ludwig AI confirms that "mentation" is a valid English word, often found in discussions about cognition and mental processes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mentation" is a valid and useful term in the English language, specifically denoting mental activity or the process of thinking. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples of its use in various contexts. While grammatically sound and accepted, it is more appropriate for formal or academic writing than casual conversation. Its synonyms include "thinking", "thought processes", and "cognition", each with slightly different nuances. When aiming for precision in describing cognitive functions, "mentation" is a valuable term to consider. It is particularly prevalent in science, news and media, and encyclopedia sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thought processes

Focuses specifically on the sequence of thoughts and how they connect.

cognitive activity

Emphasizes the mental actions involved in knowing and understanding.

mental functioning

Highlights the operational aspects of the mind and its capabilities.

intellectual capacity

Refers to the potential and ability for reasoning and understanding.

reasoning ability

Specifically focuses on the skill of forming judgments and inferences.

brain work

A more informal way to describe the effort the brain exerts during thinking.

cognitive processing

Highlights the way information is handled and manipulated by the mind.

mental operations

Emphasizes the procedures and actions carried out by the mind.

intellectual activity

Broadly covers activities that engage the intellect and promote understanding.

thinking skills

Highlights abilities and capabilities related to processing, learning, and remembering.

FAQs

How can I use "mentation" in a sentence?

You can use "mentation" to refer to the process of thinking, as in, "The study of human "mentation" is crucial for understanding cognitive development." or "His reduced "mentation" was a symptom of his illness."

What's the difference between "mentation" and "thinking"?

"Mentation" is a more formal and technical term for the process of thinking. While "thinking" is a general term, "mentation" is often used in academic or scientific contexts to specifically refer to mental activity.

What are some synonyms for "mentation"?

Synonyms for "mentation" include "thought process", "cognition", "thinking", and "intellection". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is "mentation" a commonly used word?

"Mentation" is not as common as simpler terms like "thinking" or "thought". It's more frequently encountered in academic writing, psychology, philosophy, and medical contexts where a precise term for mental activity is required.