A branch of psychology that studies the processes of acquiring, processing, storing and using information – cognitive processes, including perception, attention, memory, thinking, learning, imagination, communication, emotions and motivation. It arose under the influence of engineering psychology, ergonomics and educational research. Since the middle of the 20th century, the development of technology, computerization, linguistic research, and data on cognitive impairment have contributed to the formation of a new direction. Since the late 1980s, cognitive psychology has become part of the interdisciplinary movement – cognitive science, expanding its methodological arsenal. Methods include neurophysiological and psychophysiological studies, computer modeling, and artificial neural networks. Modern technologies, such as virtual reality, make it possible to simulate practical activities and analyze skills using psychophysiological methods.