Using the most modern interpretation, the cognitive functions of INTP profiles are as follows:

Dominant: Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Ti seeks precision, like the exact word to express an idea. Ti is calm, articulate, and aware of the forces that drive reality. Introverted thinkers notice the smallest distinctions that define the essence of things, then analyze and classify them. Ti examines all aspects of a problem, seeking to solve problems while minimizing effort and risk. It uses models to eradicate logical inconsistencies.

As introverted thinkers, INTPs invest most of their time and energy in organizing the inner and logical world of principles and generalizations in an effort to understand.

Someone with Introverted Thinking might need time to fully understand a concept. This is caused by the desire to know every component and how each of these works with the others. A Ti user would not be satisfied with the statement "this is the accelerator pedal, you press it to go." A Ti user would want to know: what happens when you press it, what is the pedal connected to, how does it interact with the engine, etc.

Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

Ne finds and interprets hidden meanings, using "what if" questions to explore alternatives, allowing multiple possibilities to coexist. This imaginative play weaves insights and experiences from various sources to form a new whole, which can become a catalyst for action. Ne enables INTPs to effortlessly connect the dots of behavioral patterns and social norms, giving them an affable quality in interactions.

Extraverted Intuitives often have an entrepreneurial mindset. Ne users visualize the possibilities of what could surround them. They desire to accomplish things and impact the world they live in. Extraverted intuitives can become very enthusiastic about these possibilities, making them naturally charismatic. Ne users can be inspiring leaders who attempt to be catalysts for change.

Tertiary: Introverted Sensing (Si)

Si collects data in the present and compares them with past experiences, a process that sometimes evokes the feelings associated with the memory, as if the subject were reliving them. Attempting to protect what is familiar, Si draws from history to form goals and expectations about what will happen in the future. Si gives INTPs the potential for accurate observation. They use this function to collect empirical data, use physical tools, perceive physical relationships, and support their internal logic with a rich sense of space.

Inferior: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Fe seeks social connections and creates harmonious interactions through kind, considerate, and appropriate behavior. Fe responds to the explicit and implicit desires of others, sometimes creating internal conflict between one's own needs and the desire to meet the needs of others.

Fe pushes INTPs to desire harmony in the community. In very relaxed conditions, INTPs can be pleasant and sociable among friends, or when they have a clear role in the group.

Under stress, however, INTPs can feel disconnected from the people around them, unable to use any extraverted feeling to reach others. As an inferior function, Feeling can be a weak point: when threatened, they hide behind a wall of stoic logic. This can lead them to bottle up their emotions to preserve reason and harmony, but a failure to manage these hidden emotions can lead to inappropriate outbursts.