What is agnosia?

Agnosia is specifically defined as a disorder that impairs the ability to recognize sensory stimuli despite the sensory organs functioning properly. Individuals with agnosia may have difficulty identifying objects, sounds, or faces, which can occur even though their basic sensory perception (sight, hearing, etc.) remains intact. This condition typically arises from damage to specific areas of the brain involved in perception and recognition, such as the occipital or temporal lobes.

The other options refer to different cognitive or psychological conditions. Memory loss can be indicative of various disorders, but it does not specifically pertain to the recognition impairment seen in agnosia. The mention of an anxiety disorder related to social situations describes social anxiety disorder, which is unrelated to sensory processing and recognition. Lastly, cognitive decline in aging encompasses a broad spectrum of potential cognitive impairments, including but not limited to memory loss or reduced cognitive function, but does not specifically address the failure to recognize sensory stimuli, which is the hallmark of agnosia.