Contents I. Introduction chapter I. Cognitive aspects of grammar

Uses for cognitive processes
Here are some common uses of different cognitive processes:
Learning
You can learn through many cognitive processes, such as memory, thought and perception. Combining multiple processes can allow you to learn more quickly and retain more information. For example, reading, writing, listening, verbally communicating and thinking about a language can help you learn one much faster than any of those processes alone.
Communication
Humans communicate through the use of every unconscious and conscious cognitive process. For instance, a conversation may require you to think about what you're saying, remember information about the conversation, perceive the other person's words and use attention to remain focused on the conversation. Conversations may be more cognitively engaging and rewarding if you can do each of these things.
Analysis
Humans can analyze their surroundings and arrive at conclusions. Analyzing stimuli often involves using perceptions, thoughts and memory. For example, analyzing the best path to take through a forest may require you to look at signs, think about the direction you are going and attempt to remember how you went through last time.
Meaning
Deriving meaning from the world requires extensive use of cognitive processes. You may choose what brings meaning to your life, but arriving at that choice involves the conscious use of cognition to connect specific actions, ideas and philosophies meaningfully. For instance, if you derive joy and meaning from helping others, you may consciously work to act in ways that continue to help others.

2.2. Examples of cognitive processes.

Here are some examples of situations where you might use cognitive processes:

Dreaming
When humans dream, they often have active sensory perceptions that include depictions of real-world and imagined scenarios. We may create such scenarios from our memories, or there may be another source for the information we perceive during dreams. Brain scans show that humans' brains are quite active during REM sleep, the stage of sleep where dreams occur.
Driving
Driving is an example of procedural knowledge, which is cognition that occurs without conscious recall. Another example of procedural knowledge is riding a bike. You perceive stimuli while driving, such as seeing other cars on the road, but once you are good at driving, you store the actions in another unconscious part of the brain that automatically activates when you start your car.
Reading a book
Human brains can create expansive worlds that exist only within the confounds of our minds, especially when we read books. You translate sensory information from your eyes into thoughts and memories, allowing you to visualize the setting and plot of the book and understand symbols and themes. For instance, you may imagine what characters look like when interacting and the scenery surrounding the protagonist throughout their journey.
Doing homework
Doing homework is an example of cognition that relies on conscious thought, attention and memory. Recalling information learned during class and reading provided materials for learning more about school subjects are all intensive uses of cognition. For instance, you may remember how to solve a math problem but read a portion of your textbook to double-check your answer.