Final answer:
A concept is a mental category that helps the brain to organize and process information efficiently, with a prototype being a prime example within that category. Schemata are clusters of related concepts that streamline routine thoughts and behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Also known as a concept, a concept is the mental category of objects or ideas based on properties that they share. Each concept may have a prototype, which is a prime example or representation of that category. For instance, a Golden Retriever could serve as a prototype for the concept of a dog if that particular breed is what comes to mind for someone first when thinking about dogs.
This mental categorization helps the brain to organize and process information swiftly and efficiently through the use of concepts and prototypes. In addition to concepts, we also develop schemata, which are clusters of related concepts that facilitate routine thoughts and behaviors in various situations, enabling us to function without constant deliberate thinking.