cognitive maps
Brain's spatial model
Cognitive maps are mental representations of physical spaces—the internal models we build of environments we navigate.
Your cognitive map of your neighborhood lets you find shortcuts and give directions.
The concept extends to abstract knowledge structures: how someone mentally organizes relationships between ideas, concepts, or information.
She had a detailed cognitive map of the subway system.
- place cellsNeurons encoding spatial position
- schemasConceptual organizing structures
- wayfindingNavigating through physical spaces
- route planningDetermining travel paths
- landmarksDistinctive, recognizable locations
you are here · spatial awareness · mental models · spatial memory · mental map · orientation · navigation systems · spatial reasoning · routes · hippocampus · hierarchies · neural pathways · mental mapping · working memory · categorization · bird's eye view · frameworks · shortcuts
cognitive mapsphysical maps
Charts showing terrain features
printed maps · GPS navigation · topographic maps · road maps · Google Maps
cognitive mapsspatial disorientation
Loss of positional awareness
mental confusion · getting lost · unfamiliarity · bewilderment · cluelessness