(“Show me how you would use a hammer”).
Gnosis:  Perceptual integrity of awaren ess and recognition, such as 
recognition of faces and colors.
Social cognition 
(recognition of 
emotions, theory 
of mind)Major:  Behavior clearly out of acceptable social range; shows 
insensitivity to social standards of modesty in dress or of polit-
ical, religious, or sexual topics of conversation. Focuses exces-
sively on a topic despite group’s disinterest or direct feedback. 
Behavioral intention without regard to family or friends. 
Makes decisions without regard to safety (e.g., inappropriate 
clothing for weather or social setting). Typically, has little 
insight into these changes.
Mild:  Has subtle changes in behavior or attitude, often described 
as a change in personality, such as less ability to recognize 
social cues or read facial expressions, decreased empathy, 
increased extraversion or introversion, decreased inhibition, 
or subtle or episodic apathy or restlessness.Recognition of emotions:  Identification of emot ion in images of faces 
representing a variety of both positive and negative emotions.
Theory of mind:  Ability to consider another person’s mental state 
(thoughts, desires, intentions) or experience—story cards with 
questions to elicit information about the mental stat e of the individ-
uals portrayed, such as “Where will the girl look for the lost bag?” 
or “Why is the boy sad?”  TABLE 1 Neurocognitive domains (continued)
Cognitive domain Examples of symptoms or  observations Examples of assessments