Fill in the blank and complete the sentence with the synonym of the underlined word:-

The research focused on improving cognitive abilities, which are essential for processes such as learning, memory, and decision-making, aiming to enhance one's _____ faculties.

intellectual

The correct answer is Option (1) → intellectual

• Cognitive relates to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning.

• Intellectual relates to the intellect, the capacity for thought and reason, especially to a high degree.

Therefore, intellectual is the closest synonym for cognitive in this context, as both refer to the brain's capacity for processing information and knowledge.