Which term refers to mental processes used to acquire knowledge?

• A. Cognition
• B. Awareness
• C. Memory
• D. Reasoning

Answer: (A)

Cognition refers to the mental processes used to acquire knowledge. It encompasses perceiving, paying attention, interpreting information, memory, thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and language. Because cognition covers all these processes together, it’s the umbrella term for how people learn and understand things.

Awareness describes being conscious of something—being alert or mindful of surroundings. Memory is specifically the ability to store and later recall information. Reasoning is a part of cognition that involves drawing conclusions from information, but it’s just one component of the broader cognitive processes. In practical terms for a CNA, understanding cognition helps you recognize whether a resident can learn new tasks, follow instructions, or make safe decisions, since all those abilities rely on cognitive functioning.