This word comes from the Latin “ment-,” a stem of “mens,” which means “mind,” plus “-ation,” a suffix for certain nouns of action. There are many types of cognitive (relating to the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses) tests, but one in particular was developed to test basic mental activity. The Maudsley Mentation Test was created in the early 1990s as a way to monitor the mental functions of patients who suffered certain kinds of brain hemorrhages. This test can provide evidence of mental deterioration in the early stages in order to provide treatment and prevent further damage.