The four articles within this Research Topic offer insights into the operationalization of cognitive systems in visual comprehension, each addressing unique aspects of visual memory, attention, and neural processing.

The articles in this Research Topic advance our understanding of how cognitive systems manage visual comprehension, focusing on key themes like cognitive load, attention, memory, and neural efficiency. A central theme is the competition for cognitive resources in tasks combining postural control and visual memory, highlighting how the brain allocates resources under demand. These studies underscore the role of selective attention, linking it to neural markers like P300, and show how factors like posture influence performance.

Neural adaptability is also emphasized, particularly in studies on cognitive load and object recognition, offering insights into how the brain maintains perception in dynamic environments. Eye-tracking data further sheds light on how conditions like frontal lobe epilepsy affect cognitive function. Importantly, these studies suggest that cognitive performance is not only task-dependent but also highly influenced by the interaction between environmental demands and the individual's internal state. These findings have implications for developing AI systems that mimic human visual processing and inform clinical interventions for cognitive impairments in conditions such as dementia, brain injury, and epilepsy.

The findings in this Research Topic pave the way for future exploration, particularly in understanding how cognitive systems manage visual comprehension under various conditions. Future research could focus on cognitive resource allocation in complex, real-world environments with multiple sensory inputs and physical demands, shedding light on performance variability in multitasking. Longitudinal studies could also reveal whether sustained cognitive load enhances neural efficiency or leads to fatigue. Research on dual-task interference, especially with tasks involving both cognitive and physical components, would benefit from advanced neuroimaging techniques to better understand how the brain manages resource competition.

These insights have practical applications in AI, where attentional control and memory prioritization could improve computer vision systems. Clinically, they could inform interventions for cognitive impairments, using techniques like neurofeedback and cognitive training to enhance visual and memory functions. Additionally, understanding how cognitive systems adapt under high cognitive load can offer strategies to mitigate cognitive fatigue in high-stress occupations or everyday multitasking scenarios. Exploring the interaction between emotions and cognitive load could further enrich our understanding of how cognitive systems integrate emotional and perceptual information under demanding conditions.

This Research Topic examines the interactions between cognitive processes like attention, memory, and neural adaptation in visual comprehension. The articles explore key themes such as the competition for cognitive resources, the role of attention in working memory, and neural mechanisms behind cognitive load during multitasking and object recognition. These studies enhance our understanding of how cognitive systems manage visual information, with implications for AI development and clinical rehabilitation. Future research suggests exploring these findings in more complex, real-world environments, and investigating the role of emotions in cognitive load.

MW: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. TP: Writing – review & editing. MT: Writing – review & editing. JS: Writing – review & editing. RP: Writing – review & editing.

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

We extend our gratitude to all the contributors of this Research Topic. A total of 23 authors contributed valuable research articles, enhancing our understanding of cognitive systems and visual comprehension. We also thank the reviewers for their thoughtful feedback, which helped us and the authors create a high-quality and engaging collection of studies. We hope that readers will find this Research Topic as insightful and stimulating as we have enjoyed curating and editing it.

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

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