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Symbol Relations

The Symbol Relations cognitive function is responsible for understanding and connecting ideas and processing complex relationships and concepts necessary for comprehension. 

Symbol Relations
  • Description

    Symbol Relations is Involved in: 

    • cause and effect reasoning
    • understanding the ‘why’ of things 
    • grasping concepts across all academic disciplines
    • comprehension of what is read or heard
    • making rational and considered decisions
    • understanding the world, oneself, and others
    • fluid reasoning and flexibility of thought
    • logical grasp of mathematical concepts
    • understanding jokes, irony, metaphor, analogies
    • processing speed
    • insight
    • semantic grasp of language necessary for comprehension and vocabulary development
    • perspective taking which involves considering other points of view
  • Difficulty

    A Difficulty in This Cognitive Function Leads to Problems in:

    • understanding concepts
    • grasping logic in mathematics 
    • reading comprehension 
    • processing ideas quickly
    • understanding why events happen
    • needing to read material repeatedly to try to grasp meaning
    • a sense of uncertainty about whether the intended meaning (while reading or listening) has been correctly understood
    • considering alternative approaches to a problem which at times may lead to stubborn or rigid behaviour 
    • understanding grammar and doing grammatical analysis
    • learning how to read an analogue clock 
    • understanding relational concepts or puzzles such as ‘Sally is shorter than Jane who is taller than Mary. Who is the tallest?’  
    • understanding jokes, grasping irony, metaphors, analogies
    • understanding and communicating their own thoughts and feelings which may lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety and depression
    • letter reversals and difficulty learning to tell time in early grades are associated with a problem in this function
  • Enhancement

    Enhancing This Function Leads to:

    • faster processing speed
    • quicker conceptual grasp of material whether read or heard
    • enhanced ability to connect and understand multiple ideas and perspectives 
    • greater insight into processes and behaviours
    • enhanced flexibility of thought
    • sharper logical reasoning
    • depth of comprehension
    • greater vocabulary acquisition
    • increased reading speed
    • improved sense of humor

Symbol Relations is Involved in: 

  • cause and effect reasoning
  • understanding the ‘why’ of things 
  • grasping concepts across all academic disciplines
  • comprehension of what is read or heard
  • making rational and considered decisions
  • understanding the world, oneself, and others
  • fluid reasoning and flexibility of thought
  • logical grasp of mathematical concepts
  • understanding jokes, irony, metaphor, analogies
  • processing speed
  • insight
  • semantic grasp of language necessary for comprehension and vocabulary development
  • perspective taking which involves considering other points of view

A Difficulty in This Cognitive Function Leads to Problems in:

  • understanding concepts
  • grasping logic in mathematics 
  • reading comprehension 
  • processing ideas quickly
  • understanding why events happen
  • needing to read material repeatedly to try to grasp meaning
  • a sense of uncertainty about whether the intended meaning (while reading or listening) has been correctly understood
  • considering alternative approaches to a problem which at times may lead to stubborn or rigid behaviour 
  • understanding grammar and doing grammatical analysis
  • learning how to read an analogue clock 
  • understanding relational concepts or puzzles such as ‘Sally is shorter than Jane who is taller than Mary. Who is the tallest?’  
  • understanding jokes, grasping irony, metaphors, analogies
  • understanding and communicating their own thoughts and feelings which may lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety and depression
  • letter reversals and difficulty learning to tell time in early grades are associated with a problem in this function

Enhancing This Function Leads to:

  • faster processing speed
  • quicker conceptual grasp of material whether read or heard
  • enhanced ability to connect and understand multiple ideas and perspectives 
  • greater insight into processes and behaviours
  • enhanced flexibility of thought
  • sharper logical reasoning
  • depth of comprehension
  • greater vocabulary acquisition
  • increased reading speed
  • improved sense of humor

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Our Brain’s Connector Hub

symbol-relations-puzzles-come-together-600px-compressed

Think of an idea or a concept or a puzzle we are trying to understand. It is made up of a series of elements or facts that may seem random at first. Not until they are connected is the meaning revealed, providing us with that ‘aha’ moment of understanding and insight. 

The idea, concept or puzzle can be simple or complex, made up of a few or many elements. When they are connected, understanding is reached. Symbol Relations is the ability to connect those elements, to see that the connections are all related, allowing us to reach a logical and meaningful synthesis or conclusion using the information presented.  

In the example above, it can be as simple as understanding – What is a cat? 

Essential in Skills Such As:

  • Reading comprehension

  • Mathematical reasoning

  • Decision making

  • Negotiation

  • Research Skills

  • Listening

  • Data analysis