{"id":599,"date":"2021-03-23T08:22:52","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T12:22:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/?p=599"},"modified":"2022-07-25T07:29:31","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T11:29:31","slug":"cognitive-maps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/cognitive-maps\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Things You Should Know About Cognitive Maps and Navigating the Map of the Mind"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you\u2019ve gotten lost before\u2014whether it\u2019s in a new city or a local grocery store\u2014then you\u2019ll understand how cognitive maps work.<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps you\u2019ve been caught in a maze of unfamiliar buildings and confusing street signs. Maybe you\u2019re driving around in a foreign country while searching for a breakfast place. Or, perhaps you\u2019re just looking for the restroom because you really have to pee.<\/span><\/p>\n When you need direction, your brain pulls out a special kind of map to show you where to go.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This map is a cognitive map.<\/span><\/p>\n Cognitive maps are like your mind\u2019s very own navigation system. It helps you absorb information about your surroundings so you won\u2019t keep going in circles.<\/span><\/p>\n But more than showing you directions, cognitive maps can also sharpen the way you think. In fact, various fields and careers use cognitive maps to enhance creative thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n And so, if you\u2019re always hungry for innovative ideas and new solutions, this article is what you\u2019re looking for. Here, you\u2019ll understand how your mind learns about your surroundings. Plus, you’ll know how your surroundings shape the way you think.<\/span><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Before we dive into the concept of cognitive maps, let\u2019s first get to know the definition of \u201ccognitive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Every single mental process of our brain is considered cognitive. It refers to the intellectual activity that allows us to think, reason, and solve. Our<\/span> cognitive abilities<\/span><\/a> allow us to do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n Now, when we talk about cognitive maps, we refer to our mind\u2019s representation of a certain environment. Cognitive maps are sometimes called mental maps or mind maps.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n They can help you visualize a setting or understand the orientation of a landscape. It\u2019s a reflection of how much you know about a particular space.<\/span><\/p>\n Cognitive maps become handy when we\u2019re giving someone directions. It’s also used when you\u2019re exploring an unfamiliar place. During these situations, your mind gives you a layout of images that helps you pinpoint a location.<\/span><\/p>\n Your brain\u2019s ability to create cognitive maps speaks volumes about the way you learn. It shows how sharp you are when it comes to storing and recalling spatial information. Think of it as your brain\u2019s own Waze!<\/span><\/p>\n –>> What’s your brain type? Take the FREE Test here. <<–<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The concept of cognitive maps was born because of rats. Yes, rats!<\/span><\/p>\n In 1948, an American psychologist named<\/span> Edward Tolman<\/span><\/a> conducted an experiment. In this experiment, he placed rats in a cross-shaped maze. Then, he allowed the rats to explore their surroundings.<\/span><\/p>\n After the little exploration, Tolman placed the rat inside one arm of the cross. Tolman then put some food on the arm at the right side of the rat. After a while, the rat eventually found the food.<\/span><\/p>\n Soon, the rat became familiar with this setup. He knew that the food was always to his right.<\/span><\/p>\n This behavior showed that he was already conditioned to his environment!<\/span><\/p>\n But there\u2019s more to it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tolman placed the food at a different arm, an arm that the rat isn\u2019t used to. To Tolman\u2019s surprise, the rat still found the food. He later realized that the rat had formed a cognitive map and used that knowledge to find his treat.<\/span><\/p>\n Tolman\u2019s discovery unlocked a lot of secrets about<\/span> spatial cognition<\/span><\/a>. Over time, the theory about cognitive maps was used to study other animals and people.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The brain automatically generates cognitive maps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To make a<\/span> cognitive map<\/span><\/a>, the brain will first use what you see, smell, and hear. These pieces of information will serve as cues. The brain uses cues to understand your surroundings and create a vector.<\/span><\/p>\n A vector represents your direction and position in a specific environment. Then, the vector will go through the hippocampal place cells, where information is interpreted. This process helps your brain identify your surroundings and determine your relative location.<\/span><\/p>\n The hippocampus is a vital part of cognitive mapping, especially for mammals and birds. John O\u2019Keefe and Lynn Nadel discuss this in their book, \u201cThe Hippocampus as a Cognitive Map.\u201d According to them, the hippocampus contains neurons that create a memory of an animal\u2019s landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n And so, when the animal goes to a certain environment, the neurons in their hippocampus remind them of that setting. It\u2019s as if the animal\u2019s mind is creating a map then and there.<\/span><\/p>\n Marianne Fyhn and Torkel Hafting propose <\/span>another theory<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They discovered spatial cells in the part of the brain called the entorhinal cortex. The entorhinal cortex sends loads of information to the hippocampus.<\/span><\/p>\n When the rat went to certain places within the controlled environment, the scientists found that the spatial cells fired. What\u2019s more interesting is that the cells fired in many places\u2014not just one!<\/span><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Even better, the places where the cells fired formed a regular pattern. In this pattern, the firing locations had the same distance from their neighbors.<\/span><\/p>\n The scientists were astounded by these findings. Not only did they affirm that the hippocampus is a map. They also confirmed that the hippocampus also serves as a memory system.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How do you prefer going to work?<\/span><\/p>\n Some of you may choose the speed and convenience of your private car. Some might prefer using cheap modes of public transportation. Others might say that they would rather walk and get a little exercise for the day.<\/span><\/p>\n Hey, as long as you get there, right?<\/span><\/p>\n But did you know that your travel behavior affects your cognitive maps? <\/span>In this<\/span> study<\/span><\/a>, researchers discovered that a person’s cognitive map’s accuracy depends on their mode of travel.<\/span><\/p>\n They found a difference between the individuals who used cognitively-active ways of traveling and those who used cognitively-passive ways.<\/span><\/p>\n Some examples of cognitively-active ways of travel are walking and driving. It involves you taking charge of the direction you take.<\/span><\/p>\n –>> What’s your brain type? Take the FREE Test here. <<–<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n But, cognitively-passive modes of travel mean you\u2019re a passenger of a vehicle. This means you simply sit back and let someone else deal with the road.<\/span><\/p>\n The research found that cognitively-active travelers were more accurate in describing the landscape of a place. Drivers and people who walked were especially knowledgeable about their space. They were able to point out the location of certain landmarks and destinations.<\/span><\/p>\n But for cognitively-passive travelers, their memory was less accurate. They\u2019re most likely to miss a few details about places and directions. Their spatial knowledge can also be quite limited.<\/span><\/p>\n What does this study tell us?<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes, your brain will delete information that may seem irrelevant. Other times, you just miss important landmarks and streets.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your mode of travel shapes your knowledge about your surroundings. It also builds your skills in soaking information about your environment.<\/span><\/p>\n Cognitive maps, concept maps, mind maps\u2014they could all be very confusing.<\/span><\/p>\n These three terms are usually interchanged. But even though they all sound similar, they each have their own concept. They also have their advantages and disadvantages.<\/span><\/p>\n One thing that you can be sure of is that all these maps are used for visualizations. To be specific, they\u2019re utilized to represent a mental model.<\/span><\/p>\n They\u2019re sometimes referred to as a technique in making diagrams. Additionally, the three maps are also important for studying relationships and interpreting information.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a broader explanation of what sets the three maps apart:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All cognitive maps represent someone\u2019s mental process and thoughts. Basically, all kinds of mapping techniques are cognitive maps.<\/span><\/p>\n As a general type of map, it can accommodate many disciplines. This diversity is a huge advantage. Various fields can make use of a cognitive map to illustrate data sets, plans, and solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n There are no rules when it comes to the visuals of a cognitive map. There\u2019s no specific form or structure to follow as well. Anyone can present ideas and their relationships in whatever way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cognitive maps can come in a variety of looks.<\/span><\/p>\n They can be something as simple as a map drawn with a pen and paper. They can be digitalized, too. They can also appear as flowcharts, bullet lists, and concept diagrams.<\/span><\/p>\n Since there are no restrictions for cognitive maps, they become<\/span> useful in many ways.<\/span><\/a> These maps are flexible in discussing different types of situations. It can represent the relationship of various concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best Used For:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The idea of the concept map was born in 1970. That\u2019s thanks to Joseph Novak, an American professor. He developed this map as an aid for his students\u2019 learning.<\/span><\/p>\n Novak noted that the map works best in helping his students absorb the lesson. It also helps in knowledge retention. Plus, it facilitates an easier way of interpreting connections between ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n In a nutshell,<\/span> concept maps<\/span><\/a> are a graph that emphasizes the relationships of certain topics.<\/span><\/p>\n Every concept map has a node that contains a concept. In the map, graph labels show how nodes connect. The graph edges also have labels that show the relationship between connecting nodes.<\/span><\/p>\n The concept map\u2019s defining characteristic lies within its nodes. Unlike the other maps, the nodes of a concept map can have many parents. That means one node can be connected to many others.<\/span><\/p>\n This characteristic is the map\u2019s strength. Because of this feature, concept maps work best when discussing complicated concepts. Through the concept map, you can point out the relationship of one node to another.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best Used For:<\/span><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Out of all the cognitive maps out there, this one is the simplest.<\/span><\/p>\n Mind maps are straight to the point. This is because they\u2019re easy to make and quick to take in. They also have a clear format and an understandable hierarchy.<\/span><\/p>\n Essentially, mind maps show a core topic and its subtopics. It usually presents itself as a tree. You will see the sub-ideas branching out from the main one.<\/span><\/p>\n Tony Buzan, a British author back in 1974, popularized mind maps. Today, it\u2019s used to present information systematically.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n
What are Cognitive Maps?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
The Mind behind Mind Mapping<\/b><\/h2>\n
How is a Cognitive Map Formed: Theories behind Cognitive Mapping<\/b><\/h2>\n
O\u2019Keefe and Nadel (1978)<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n
Fhyn and Hafting et al.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Building Cognitive Maps through Our Real-Life Travels<\/b><\/h2>\n
Cognitive maps are not accurate all the time.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
The transportation system you choose affects the way you engage with your city.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Cognitive Map vs. Concept Maps vs. Mind Maps<\/b><\/h2>\n
What is a Cognitive Map?<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
What is a Concept Map?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
What is a Mind Map?<\/b><\/h3>\n