What are cognitive maps?

Cognitive maps refer to mental representations of physical environments that help individuals navigate and understand their surroundings. These mental constructs allow people to visualize spatial relationships, locations, and the organization of objects within an environment, facilitating both navigation and comprehension of complex spaces. Cognitive maps are not just limited to visual images; they also involve abstract understanding of the layout and connections between different areas.

While mental images of past experiences, visual diagrams for navigation, and emotional responses to spatial relationships may all be relevant concepts within the realm of cognitive psychology, they do not encapsulate the specific nature of cognitive maps. Cognitive maps focus specifically on how people encode, store, and recall information about physical spaces, making them fundamental for spatial reasoning and navigation tasks.