Final answer:
A cognitive map is a mental representation of one's environment, used to navigate complex spaces and is a component of cognitive learning, which includes advanced mental processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cognitive map is b. mental representation of one's environment. It is not merely a sequence of decisions or mechanical steps, but a dynamic and detailed mental layout that helps us navigate through new or complex environments. Famous psychologist E.C.
Tolman highlighted the significance of cognitive maps through his experiments with rats, showing that they could navigate mazes by relying on a mental representation rather than just a series of conditioned responses. In our daily lives, we use cognitive maps when finding our way through unfamiliar places, such as museums or hospitals, where attention to distinguishing features can enhance our navigational success.
Cognitive maps are an essential component of cognitive learning, a complex type of learning involving multiple brain processes like thinking, perceiving, analyzing, and remembering. This contrasts with simple conditioned learning, revealing the brain's ability to form spatial awareness and understand the environment beyond mere stimulus-response patterns. So, when one refers to holding a cognitive map, it implies an understanding of one's surroundings at a higher cognitive level.