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cognitive load

the relative demand imposed by a particular task, in terms of mental resources required. Also called mental load; mental workload. See also cognitive overload; mental effort.

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Psychology term of the day

March 13th 2025

cognitive neuroscience

cognitive neuroscience

a branch of neuroscience and biological psychology that focuses on the neural mechanisms of cognition. Although overlapping with the study of the mind in cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, with its grounding in such areas as experimental psychology, neurobiology, brain imaging techniques, physics, and mathematics, is more concerned with the specific neural mechanisms by which mental processes occur in the brain; the two perspectives continually exert significant influence on each other. Also called neurocognition.