Cognitive Science Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Cognitive Science distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

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Quick Reference

Mental Representation

Mental representations are internal cognitive symbols or structures that stand for external objects, events, or abstract ideas. They are the building blocks of thought, enabling the mind to reason about things that are not immediately present in the environment.

Working Memory

Working memory is a limited-capacity system responsible for the temporary holding and manipulation of information during complex cognitive tasks. It acts as a mental workspace that integrates perception, long-term memory, and action.

Embodied Cognition

Embodied cognition is the theory that cognitive processes are deeply shaped by the body's interactions with the environment. Rather than treating the mind as a disembodied computer, this view holds that sensory and motor systems play a constitutive role in thinking.

Cognitive Load Theory

Cognitive load theory describes the amount of mental effort required to process information in working memory. It distinguishes between intrinsic load (inherent difficulty), extraneous load (poor instructional design), and germane load (effort devoted to learning).

The Computational Theory of Mind

This theory proposes that the mind operates by performing computations over symbolic representations, much like a digital computer processes data. It was a foundational idea of the cognitive revolution and remains influential in AI research.

Modularity of Mind

Proposed by Jerry Fodor, modularity holds that the mind is organized into distinct, specialized processing units (modules) that operate independently and handle specific types of input such as language, face recognition, or spatial reasoning.

Connectionism

Connectionism models cognition using artificial neural networks—large systems of simple interconnected processing units that learn by adjusting the strength of their connections. It offers an alternative to the symbolic computation view of the mind.

Theory of Mind

Theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states—beliefs, desires, intentions, and emotions—to oneself and others, and to understand that others may have perspectives different from one's own. It is crucial for social interaction and communication.

Attention

Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring others. Research distinguishes between bottom-up attention (driven by salient stimuli) and top-down attention (guided by goals and expectations).

Dual-Process Theory

Dual-process theory distinguishes between two modes of thinking: System 1, which is fast, automatic, and intuitive, and System 2, which is slow, deliberate, and analytical. These two systems interact to guide human judgment and decision-making.

Key Terms at a Glance

Affordance:A property of an object or environment that suggests how it can be used, as perceived by an agent. The concept, introduced by J.J. Gibson, bridges perception and action.

Attention:The cognitive process of selectively concentrating on relevant information while ignoring distractions. It includes sustained, selective, divided, and executive forms of attention.

Behaviorism:A psychological approach that focuses exclusively on observable behavior and rejects the study of internal mental states. It dominated psychology before the cognitive revolution of the 1950s.

Binding Problem:The challenge of explaining how the brain integrates separately processed features (color, shape, motion, sound) into a unified, coherent conscious experience.

Chunking:The process of grouping individual pieces of information into larger, meaningful units (chunks) to overcome the limitations of short-term memory capacity.

Cognitive Architecture:A comprehensive computational framework that specifies the structures and processes underlying cognition. Examples include ACT-R (Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational) and SOAR.

Cognitive Neuroscience:The branch of neuroscience that studies the biological mechanisms underlying cognitive processes, using methods such as fMRI, EEG, and lesion studies.

Connectionism:An approach to cognitive modeling that uses networks of simple interconnected processing units (artificial neurons) to simulate cognitive processes through distributed, parallel computation.

Consciousness:The subjective awareness of internal and external experiences. It remains one of the most debated topics in cognitive science, encompassing the hard problem, qualia, and neural correlates.

Declarative Memory:A type of long-term memory that stores facts (semantic memory) and personal events (episodic memory) that can be consciously recalled and verbally declared.

Dual-Process Theory:A framework distinguishing two cognitive systems: System 1 (fast, automatic, intuitive) and System 2 (slow, deliberate, analytical). It explains patterns in judgment, reasoning, and decision-making.

Embodied Cognition:The theory that cognitive processes are fundamentally shaped by the body's morphology, sensory systems, and motor capabilities, and by the body's dynamic interaction with the physical environment.

Episodic Memory:A subcategory of declarative memory involving the recollection of specific personal events and experiences, typically associated with a particular time and place.

Executive Function:A set of higher-order cognitive processes—including inhibition, working memory updating, and cognitive flexibility—that enable goal-directed behavior, planning, and self-regulation.

Heuristic:A mental shortcut or rule of thumb that simplifies decision-making and problem-solving. While efficient, heuristics can lead to systematic errors known as cognitive biases.

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