Skip to main content

Processing Speed

Meaning

Processing speed is a fundamental cognitive ability defined as the rate at which an individual can efficiently and accurately perform a routine intellectual task, encompassing the time taken to perceive, understand, and initiate a response to information. It is a measure of the temporal efficiency of mental operations, requiring intact attention and concentration. A measurable decline in processing speed is often one of the earliest signs of cognitive aging or subtle neuroendocrine compromise.