Cgntv flxblty s n ntrnsc prprty f cgntv systm ftn ssctd wth th mntl blty t djst ts ctvty nd cntnt, swtch btwn dffrnt tsk rls nd crrspndng bhvrl rspnss, mntn mltpl cncpts smltnsly nd shft ntrnl ttntn btwn thm. Th trm cgntv flxblty s trdtnlly sd t rfr t n f th xctv fnctns. n ths sns, t cn b sn s nrl ndrpnnngs f dptv nd flxbl bhvr. Mst flxblty tsts wr dvlpd ndr ths ssmptn svrl dcds g. Nwdys, cgntv flxblty cn ls b rfrrd t s st f prprts f th brn tht fcltt flxbl yt rlvnt swtchng btwn fnctnl brn stts.
Cgntv flxblty vrs drng th lfspn f n ndvdl. n ddtn, crtn cndtns sch s bsssv–cmplsv dsrdr r ssctd wth rdcd cgntv flxblty. Snc cgntv flxblty s vtl cmpnnt f lrnng, dfcts n ths r mght hv thr mplctns.
Tw cmmn pprchs t stdyng f cgntv flxblty fcs n th ncnscs cpcty fr tsk swtchng nd cnscs blty f cgntv shftng. Mthds f msrng cgntv flxblty ncld th -nt-B tsk, th Dmnsnl Chng Crd Srtng Tsk, th Mltpl Clssfctn Crd Srtng Tsk, th Wscnsn Crd Srtng Tsk, nd th Strp Tst. Fnctnl Mgntc Rsnnc mgng (fMR) rsrch hs shwn tht spcfc brn rgns r ctvtd whn prsn nggs n cgntv flxblty tsks. Ths rgns ncld th prfrntl crtx (PFC), bsl gngl, ntrr cnglt crtx (CC), nd pstrr prtl crtx (PPC). Stds cndctd wth ppl f vrs gs nd wth prtclr dfcts hv frthr nfrmd hw cgntv flxblty dvlps nd chngs wthn th brn.
Cgntv flxblty shld nt b cnfsd wth psychlgcl flxblty, whch s th blty t dpt t sttnl dmnds, t blnc lf dmnds nd t cmmt t bhvrs by thnkng bt prblms nd tsks n nvl, crtv wys (fr xmpl by chngng stnc r cmmtmnt whn nxpctd vnts ccr).