Orientation is a function of the mind involving awareness of three dimensions: time, place and person.
It ranges from an inability to coherently understand person, place, time, and situation, to complete disorientation.
Assessment of a person's mental orientation is frequently designed to evaluate the need for focused diagnosis and treatment of conditions leading to an altered level of consciousness.
[2] These tests frequently primarily assess the ability of the person (within EMS) to perform basic functions of life (see: Airway Breathing Circulation), many assessments then gauge their level of amnesia, awareness of surroundings, concept of time, place, and response to verbal, and sensory stimuli.
[5] Areas within precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, inferior parietal lobe, medial prefrontal cortex, lateral frontal, lateral temporal cortices are believed to be responsible for situational orientation.