neurocognition
/ˌnjʊəroʊkɒɡˈnɪʃən/
Definition
The mental processes and cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and executive reasoning, that are governed by the nervous system and can be impacted by external physiological stressors like extreme heat.
Etymology
The word is a hybrid construction combining the Greek-derived 'neuro-' (referring to the nervous system) and the Latin-derived 'cognition' (the process of acquiring knowledge or thinking). It entered common scientific usage in the late 20th century to describe the integrated study of brain activity and mental processing.
In the news
In the article, neurocognition is mentioned to highlight how biological stressors—such as sleep disruption caused by extreme heat—can adversely affect brain function and exacerbate existing mental health conditions. Understanding these links helps explain why heatwaves may lead to higher rates of psychiatric hospitalizations.
Mental health hospitalizations associated with sustained extreme heat in multiple countries
Read the full article ↗Nature