higher cognitive process - cognitive processes that presuppose the availability of knowledge and put it to use

free association - a thought process in which ideas (words or images) suggest other ideas in a sequence

mental synthesis, construction - the creation of a construct; the process of combining ideas into a congruous object of thought

abstract thought, logical thinking, reasoning - thinking that is coherent and logical

line of thought - a particular way of thinking that is characteristic of some individual or group

train of thought, thread - the connections that link the various parts of an event or argument together; "I couldn't follow his train of thought"; "he lost the thread of his argument"

mysticism - obscure or irrational thought

ideation - the process of forming and relating ideas

consideration - the process of giving careful thought to something

excogitation - thinking something out with care in order to achieve complete understanding of it

explanation - thought that makes something comprehensible

planning, preparation, provision - the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening; "his planning for retirement was hindered by several uncertainties"

problem solving - the thought processes involved in solving a problem

convergent thinking - thinking that brings together information focussed on solving a problem (especially solving problems that have a single correct solution)

divergent thinking, out-of-the-box thinking - thinking that moves away in diverging directions so as to involve a variety of aspects and which sometimes lead to novel ideas and solutions; associated with creativity