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Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adaptively shift thinking patterns in response to changing demands or perspectives. This skill involves recognizing when a change in strategy is necessary and being able to switch gears effectively, which is crucial for problem-solving and decision-making in dynamic situations. Cognitive flexibility allows individuals to adjust their thoughts and behaviors based on new information or changes in their environment, facilitating a more adaptive and effective approach to challenges.

Metacognition, while related to self-awareness of one's own thought processes, does not specifically involve the actual shifting of thinking patterns. Attention refers to the ability to focus on specific stimuli or tasks, and memory encompasses the processes involved in encoding, storing, and retrieving information. While these functions are essential cognitive abilities, they do not specifically capture the notion of adaptability in thinking as cognitive flexibility does. Thus, the ability to adaptively switch thoughts and strategies, which is a core component of cognitive flexibility, is the reason this answer is correct.