Cognitive model

The term cognitive model can have basically two meanings. In cognitive psychology, a model is a simplified representation of reality. The essential quality of such a model is to help deciding the appropriate actions, i.e. the actions ensuring that a given goal is reached (see mental model).

In cognitive science, a cognitive model is a model of cognitive processes or even an organism. Briefly put, it is the use of computers to model cognitive behavior and sometimes also the study of nature to improve the usage of computers. These cognitive models are used to study e.g. intelligent or social behaviour, and emergent properties of a connectionist architecture.

Cognitive modelling in the latter sense can be understood as reverse engineering some aspect of human cognition by means of artificial intelligence and machine learning in order to better understand this certain aspect.

In contrast to a cognitive architecture, a model does not necessarily have an explanation to all aspects of cognition (cf. holistic approach), but focuses on particular cognitive processes. Many cognitive models use the framework of nouvelle AI, especially the paradigm of connectionism, to overcome a perceived poor biological plausibility of GOFAI (Good Old Fashioned AI).