Cognition Quote by Elkhonon Goldberg
““Cognition and emotion are both critical parts of normal functioning. As neatly summarized by Dr. Robert Sylwester (whose interview can be found at the end of this chapter): “Emotion is the system that tells us how important something is. Attention focuses us on the important and away from the unimportant things. Cognition tells us what to do about it. Cognitive skills are whatever it takes to do those things.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Executive Brain by Elkhonon Goldberg, 2001
Explains that emotion signals importance, attention selects focus, and cognition decides actions, integrating them for effective functioning.
In simple terms: Emotion flags importance; attention narrows focus; cognition directs action.
Key Takeaway
Integrate emotion, attention, and cognition.
Themes
psychology
neuroscience
decision‑making
attention
Mood
analytical
balanced
Type
educational
insightful
When to use this quote
- stress management
- learning environments
- leadership decisions
- personal planning
Key Concepts
emotional relevance
selective focus
cognitive control
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance feeling and logic?
- When does attention become a distraction?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on cognition can ignore emotional nuance.
![“[Mood allocates] investments of time, effort, resources, and risk taking to maximize Darwinian fitness in situations of varying propitiousness. High and low moods adjust cognition and behavior to cope with propitious and unpropitious situations.” quote by Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6d0/randolph-m-nesse-24802_behavior_mood-allocates-investments-of-time-effor_87538.jpg)
