higher cognitive functions
Technical term in psychology and neuroscience for complex mental processes such as reasoning, planning, and problem-solving.
Higher cognitive functions are deeply involved with the prefrontal cortex.
Higher cognitive functions can decline with age.
Refers to cognitive functions in general, while 高次認知機能 specifically denotes higher-order processes like executive function.
Compound of 高次 (higher-order) and 認知機能 (cognitive function). A modern technical term likely calqued from English 'higher cognitive functions'.