Which of the following individuals is engaging in a cognitive process?

• A. A runner's heart rate increasing during exercise
• B. A student mentally solving a math problem
• C. A person reflexively blinking when a light flashes
• D. A plant growing toward sunlight

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what a cognitive process is. Cognitive processes involve mental activities related to acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. Examples include thinking, problem-solving, memory, and decision-making.
2. Step 2: Analyze each option to determine if it involves mental activity or automatic physiological responses. For example, a runner's heart rate increasing is a physiological response, not a cognitive process.
3. Step 3: Consider the option 'A student mentally solving a math problem.' This clearly involves active thinking and problem-solving, which are cognitive processes.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the other options: reflexive blinking is an automatic response, and a plant growing toward sunlight is a biological process, neither involving cognition.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the individual engaging in a cognitive process is the student mentally solving a math problem, as this requires conscious mental effort and problem-solving skills.