Editing Neurocognition (section)

{{short description|Cognitive functions related to a brain region}}
{{Neuropsychology}}
'''Neurocognitive''' functions are [[cognitive function]]s closely linked to the function of particular areas, [[neural pathway]]s, or [[Cerebral cortex|cortical]] networks in the [[brain]], ultimately served by the substrate of the brain's neurological matrix (i.e. at the cellular and molecular level). Therefore, their understanding is closely linked to the practice of [[neuropsychology]] and [[cognitive neuroscience]] – two disciplines that broadly seek to understand how the structure and function of the brain relate to cognition and behaviour.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

A '''neurocognitive deficit''' is a reduction or impairment of cognitive function in one of these areas, but particularly when physical changes can be seen to have occurred in the brain, such as aging related physiological changes or after [[neurological illness]], [[mental illness]], [[medication|drug]] use, or [[Acquired brain injury|brain injury]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Blazer|first1=Dan|title=Commentary: Neurocognitive Disorders in DSM-5|journal=American Journal of Psychiatry|volume=170|issue=6|pages=585–587|doi=10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13020179|doi-access=free |year=2013|pmid=23732964 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Callie |title=Brain Fog - What are the symptoms, causes, treatments, and COVID 19 medical effects on brain health? |url=https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/brain-fog |date=Oct 21, 2020 |website=University of Medicine and Health Sciences in St. Kitts |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001095421/https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/brain-fog |archive-date= Oct 1, 2023 }}</ref>

A [[clinical neuropsychologist]] may specialise in using [[neuropsychological test]]s to detect and understand such deficits, and may be involved in the [[Rehabilitation (neuropsychology)|rehabilitation]] of an affected person. The discipline that studies neurocognitive deficits to infer normal psychological function is called [[cognitive neuropsychology]].