This chapter provides a foundational overview of human cognition, tracing its etymology and evolutionary development. Cognition is the mental framework enabling perception, learning, memory, and decision-making, which has evolved to help humans navigate their environment. However, the rapid pace of technological and societal change has outstripped evolutionary adaptation, leading to cognitive challenges in the digital age. The transition from hunter-gatherer societies to modern industrial civilizations is examined, highlighting how cognitive processes that once served survival in natural environments now face new pressures in an interconnected, technology-driven world. The chapter also explores the interdisciplinary history of cognitive science, from early philosophical inquiries to the cognitive revolution of the mid-twentieth century. Key figures, such as Piaget, Chomsky, and Kahneman, have shaped our understanding of cognition, influencing fields ranging from artificial intelligence to behavioral economics. The impact of social media on cognitive processes is also introduced, setting the stage for subsequent discussions on how digital technologies shape attention, memory, and decision-making. By establishing cognition as the foundation of human interaction and intelligence, this chapter underscores the necessity of studying its evolution and adaptation in an increasingly digitalized world.