cognitive map

noun

1. Psychology. a mental picture of one's physical or spatial environment.

cognitive map

noun

1. psychol a mental map of one's environment

Other Words From

• cognitive mapping noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cognitive map¹

First recorded in 1948; first used by behavioral psychologist Edward C. Tolman

Example Sentences

They envision highways and roads, creating internal atlases, so-called cognitive maps, that guide them steadily on their desired course.

From Outside Online

Maybe the very different experiences that Santos and Vanishvili had at their respective borders resulted in very different emotional ties to their cognitive maps of their respective border walls.

From Popular-Science

The link between emotions and cognitive maps likely has roots in survival.

From Popular-Science

The results were more complex than earlier studies but reinforce the notion that we bias our cognitive maps with our emotions.

From Popular-Science

That detail was important, because it meant they were using their cognitive maps, mental images based on their own experience.

From Popular-Science