Meaning of Phrase “Cognitive Benefits”

Hi Jonathan,

In the second paragraph [of the article from last week’s class], does the phrase “cognitive benefits” in the second line mean that the benefits are felt and real?

The word you’re thinking of is “tangible”.

This is one of those cases in which knowing the Latin roots helps even if you don’t know the word itself.

The prefix “cogn-” comes from “to learn” or “to know”.

We use it more broadly now to refer to the mind or thinking (knowing things) in general.

(Almost) any time you see the prefix “cogn-“, it refers to the mind, thinking, or knowing.

Examples:

  • recognize
  • cognizance
  • cognition
  • incognito
  • precognition

So “cognitive benefits” just means it helps or improves the function of the mind, particularly thinking (which includes what the article was referring to: memory.)

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