Cognitive Maps Research Articles

Mapping young farmers’ choice to pursue Geographical Indication in a rural context: application of fuzzy cognitive map

The shortage of young people in agriculture and the decline of rural areas are increasingly pressing issues that capture the attention of European policymakers and researchers. Despite the low rate of youth involved in agricultural production, recent data reveal a significant proportion of young farmers in Italy that are engaged in geographical indication (GI) production. Statistics provide trend analysis, but they alone are not sufficient in clarifying the motivations behind young people’s decision-making. We conducted a qualitative study of Sicilian youth involved in GI to understand their motivations to pursue GI certification and the implications for youth embeddedness in rural areas. Using a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM), qualitative data have been translated in quantitative, giving evidence on key variables and their inter-relationships that influence young people's decision-making in a GI complex system. A total of twenty-two categorized variables have been identified. Results show how the young entrepreneurs' thinking in GI is structured, based on the cause-effect relationships between the variables. This study finds evidence that the GI system facilitates young generations of farmers in developing a personal approach to modern agribusiness starting from traditions and origins. At the same time, it gives evidence of a new perspective for involving young people in agricultural careers. In this sense, the present research contributes to the literature on factors that add attractiveness to the agricultural sector, to lead researchers and policymakers in dealing with alternative strategies for incentivizing youth involvement in farming.

An explainable analysis of diabetes mellitus using statistical and artificial intelligence techniques

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease prevalent worldwide, requiring a multifaceted analytical approach to improve early detection and subsequent mitigation of morbidity and mortality rates. This research aimed to develop an explainable analysis of DM by combining sociodemographic and clinical data with statistical and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.MethodsLeveraging a small dataset that includes sociodemographic and clinical profiles of diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, we employed a diverse set of statistical and AI models for predictive purposes and assessment of DM risk factors. The statistical tests used were Student’s t-test and Chi-square, while the AI techniques were fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM), artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), and XGBoost.ResultsOur statistical models facilitated an in-depth exploration of variable associations, while the resulting AI models demonstrated exceptional efficacy in DM classification. In particular, the XGBoost model showed superior performance in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity with values of 1 for each of these metrics. On the other hand, the FCM stood out for its explainability capabilities by allowing an analysis of the variables involved in the prediction using scenario-based simulations.ConclusionsAn integrated analysis of DM using a variety of methodologies is critical for timely detection of the disease and informed clinical decision-making.

Some Memories of Stalking the Seahorse.

Early influences that led to the development of the cognitive map theory of hippocampal function, and the multiple trace theory, are discussed. Some details are provided, many are left out.

Participatory modelling across Kenyan villages facilitates insights into the complexity of human–elephant interactions

Abstract Negative human–wildlife interactions are a growing problem, particularly for people living near protected areas and wildlife refuges. In Kenya, African savannah elephants Loxodonta africana threaten food security for subsistence farmers by crop foraging, which can jeopardize conservation efforts if farmers retaliate against elephants. To inform conservation and management, this study had three objectives: (1) to evaluate stakeholder participatory models of human–elephant conflict; (2) to note any novel or underrepresented variables in the models; and (3) to determine if there were indicators for assessing the success of mitigation programmes using a biocultural approach. We conducted participatory modelling sessions in six villages in rural Kenya using fuzzy cognitive mapping (n = 206 participants). Farmers created group visual models with variables related to conflict with elephants. A total of 14 variables were common across all six villages, with the two highest centrality scores (a measure of importance to overall dynamics) associated with income and feelings of security. Most variables fell into two categories: environmental interactions, and policy and management. Multiple variables such as road infrastructure (drivers) and soil compaction (consequences) were identified as aspects of conflicts that are under-reported or absent in scientific literature, as well as potential socio-cultural indicators. The participatory method used is a tool for gaining more refined insights into interactions with elephants, with implications for other complex conservation issues or wildlife interactions. A more holistic view of the impacts of human–elephant interactions as demonstrated here can lead to sustainable, co-developed programmes that benefit both farmer livelihoods and elephant conservation.

Improved Navigation Performance Through Memory Triggering Maps: A Neurocartographic Approach

AbstractWhen using navigation devices the "cognitive map" created in the user's mind is much more fragmented, incomplete and inaccurate, compared to the mental model of space created when reading a conventional printed map. As users become more dependent on digital devices that reduce orientation skills, there is an urgent need to develop more efficient navigation systems that promote orientation skills. This paper proposes to consider brain processes for creating more efficient maps that use a network of optimally located cardinal lines and landmarks organized to support and stabilize the neurocognitive structures in the brain that promote spatial orientation. This new approach combines neurocognitive insights with classical research on the efficiency of cartographic visualizations. Recent neuroscientific findings show that spatially tuned neurons could be linked to navigation processes. In particular, the activity of grid cells, which appear to be used to process metric information about space, can be influenced by environmental stimuli such as walls or boundaries. Grid cell activity could be used to create a new framework for map-based interfaces that primarily considers the brain structures associated with the encoding and retrieval of spatial information. The new framework proposed in this paper suggests to arrange map symbols in a specific way that the map design helps to stabilize grid cell firing in the brain and by this improve spatial orientation and navigational performance. Spatially oriented cells are active in humans not only when moving in space, but also when imagining moving through an area—such as when reading a map. It seems likely that the activity of grid cells can be stabilized simply by map symbols that are perceived when reading a map.

Vector-based navigation in desert ants: the significance of path-integration vectors.

In the longstanding discussion of whether insects, especially central place foragers such as bees and ants, use metric representations of their landmark surroundings (so-called "cognitive maps"), the ability to find novel shortcuts between familiar locations has been considered one of the most decisive proofs for the use of such maps. Here we show by channel-based field experiments that desert ants Cataglyphis can travel such shortcuts between locations (defined by memorized goal vectors) just on the basis of path integration. When trained to visit two spatially separated feeders A and B they later travel the hitherto novel route A→B. This behavior may originate from the interaction of goal vectors retrieved from long-term memory and the current vector computed by the continuously running path integrator. Based on former experiments, we further argue that path integration is a necessary requirement also for acquiring landmark information (in form of learned goal-directed views). This emphasizes the paramount importance of path integration in these central place foragers. Finally we hypothesize that the ant's overall system of navigation consists in the optimal combination of path-integration vectors and view-based vectors, and thus handles and uses vectorial information without the need of constructing a "vector map", in which vectors are linked to known places in the environment others than to the origin of all journeys, the nest.

Four analysis moments for fuzzy cognitive mapping in participatory research

ABSTRACT Fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) is a practical tool in participatory research. Its main use is clarifying causal understandings from several knowledge sources. It provides a shared substrate or language for sharing views of causality. This makes it easier for different interest groups to agree what to do next. Each map is a collection of causal relationships with three elements: factors (cause and outcome), arrows linking factors, and weights indicating the perceived influence of each cause on its outcome. Stakeholder maps are soft models of how they see causes of an outcome, such as access to services or systemic racism. Based on a standardized FCM protocol, we present four moments in FCM analysis. (1) Agree shared meaning across maps. (2) Calculate the maximum influence of perceived causes. (3) Simplify the maps for communication. (4) Identify priorities for action. We provide explanations of the four moments in FCM analysis, with examples from five countries. FCM offers a practical means to guide health action. It incorporates local perspectives with transparent and traceable procedures.

Consequences of digital platforms’ use on the work–life balance of Brazilian journalists

This study investigates the influence of digital platforms on the work–life balance of Brazilian journalists. It comprises empirical research with 35 news professionals, including 35 semi-structured interviews and 33 diary materials. Data were qualitatively analyzed using the thematic networks approach. Findings reveal that digital platforms have influenced the work–life balance of journalists in conflicting ways, encompassing positive, mixed, and negative effects. In this sense, news workers have employed various practices to limit their use of digital media and promote work–life balance. Overall, this study presents a more comprehensive description of the impact of digital platforms in journalism. It also highlights these technologies’ prominence to positive or negative spillovers between personal and professional spheres. Last, it introduces a cognitive map of the actions put in place by a professional group to keep their digital media use under some control, which may also be seen as practices of journalistic disconnection.

Variational resolution probability maps for multi-UAV search tasks with changeable searching behaviors

Cooperative search is a fundamental task in the autonomous control of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and much effort has been spent on finding an effective way to improve the global search performances. Two behavioral aspects are essentially considered during the multi-UAV cooperative search. One is the coverage (exploration) and the other is the retrospect to hotspot regions (exploitation). Most existing studies focus on the solutions to the former issue, by using the cognitive maps with fixed grid layouts, while ignoring the coexistence of both sides, which potentially induces the failures of finding hidden and indetectable targets. This paper presents a novel search method based on the cognitive maps with alternative grid settings, namely the variational resolution probability map (VRPM), to support the global searches with changeable phases and behaviors. To realize the transformations between different resolution maps in a given budget, the incremental learning is used to update the VRPM under limited number of samples. Potential games with different objectives are used to model the multi-UAV searching behaviors during explorations and exploitations. Lyapunov vector field (LVF) is then used to steer the UAVs toward their target grids in a given time horizon, so that the control period can be properly coincided with the temporal sequences of decision makings. Simulation results demonstrate the phase transitions from the explorations to the exploitations by the proposed method. Search accuracy and the retrospects to hotspot areas are also improved by comparison with the existing search strategies.

Latent learning drives sleep-dependent plasticity in distinct CA1 subpopulations

Latent learning is a process that enables the brain to transform experiences into "cognitive maps," a form of implicit memory, without requiring reinforced training. To investigate its neural mechanisms, we record from hippocampal neurons in mice during latent learning of spatial maps and observe that the high-dimensional neural state space gradually transforms into a low-dimensional manifold that closely resembles the physical environment. This transformation process is associated with the neural reactivation of navigational experiences during sleep. Additionally, we identify a subset of hippocampal neurons that, rather than forming place fields in a novel environment, maintain weak spatial tuning but gradually develop correlated activity with other neurons. The elevated correlation introduces redundancy into the ensemble code, transforming the neural state space into a low-dimensional manifold that effectively links discrete place fields of place cells into a map-like structure. These results suggest a potential mechanism for latent learning of spatial maps in the hippocampus.

Organizing space through saccades and fixations between primate posterior parietal cortex and hippocampus

The primate posterior parietal cortex (PPC) withholds a unified representation of the visual space supporting visual exploration, while the hippocampus (HPC) provides a memory-based cognitive place map of the environment. To probe the interactions between these two representations, i.e. between view and place, we compared neural activity in the two regions of macaques navigating a virtual maze. We show that a large proportion of PPC neurons displayed spatial selectivity, along with the HPC. We hypothesized that such modulation by self-position might stem from visual cues processing through saccades and fixations. Accordingly, we found saccade-modulated neurons and cells driven by direct fixations on maze paths or landmarks in both brain regions. These populations of “path” and “landmark cells” gave rise to task-relevant maze segmentation, specific to each region. Finally, both regions anticipated landmarks before they appeared in the field of view, suggesting a shared knowledge of the spatial layout. Altogether, these findings highlight the neural processes that make up place, combining visual exploration of objects in space with memory-driven actions.

ТЕХНОЛОГИИ НЕЙРОМАРКЕТИНГА В ФОРМИРОВАНИИ КОГНИТИВНОЙ МОДЕЛИ ПОВЕДЕНИЯ ПОКУПАТЕЛЯ

The article researched approaches to the interpretation of the concept of "neuromar-keting", analyzed the essence, content of the studied concept, methods and technol-ogies of neuromarketing. The place of neu-romarketing in the system of enterprise management strategies has been deter-mined. A cognitive model of consumer be-havior using neuromarketing has been de-veloped and methods for controlling the decision to buy have been proposed. The main stages of consumer behavior control strategy formation using neuromarketing are proposed. Methods of forming a cogni-tive map of a consumer using a positive emotional connection with the consumption of a product or contact with it were investi-gated. The principles of using neuromarket-ing to form a cognitive map of the consum-er have been developed.

The Relation Between Cardinal Axes, Spatial Cells and Navigation Performance

Abstract Obtaining unbiased spatial information is a prerequisite for accurate spatial orientation, navigation, and spatial memory. Common sources for obtaining such spatial information are 2D maps and 3D visualizations of space. However, the exact way external spatial representations are integrated into a cognitive map is still not fully understood. Currently, there is much research on the cells forming the spatial map in the hippocampal and parahippocampal cortices. In interaction with other cell types, grid cells appear to play a dominant role in the formation of the cognitive spatial map. Grid cells are characterized by repeated firing fields arranged in a sixfold rotational symmetry. Using a path integration task, we investigated whether artificial spatial elements mirroring the sixfold rotational symmetry can improve navigation performance. This would be an indication that grid cells respond to these artificial elements. In the reported study, we investigated the influence of artificial cardinal axes arranged with 60° (matched to grid cell symmetry) and 30° (mismatched to grid cell symmetry) angles in a reduced 3D spatial environment. Although, the results are not conclusive, they do indicate a trend that participants benefit from a 60° angle in trials with moderate difficulty. Thus, we found the first evidence that mirroring their sixfold rotational symmetry with artificial cardinal axes may trigger grid cells. Future studies should investigate this connection in more detail and a virtual 3D environment shown by head-mounted displays. This might lead to a more detailed insight into the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying the transfer from maps and 3D environments in the cognitive map and how this can be optimized.

Rural Road Assessment Method for Sustainable Territorial Development

In Latin America, initiatives have been advocated for developing rural roads that facilitate optimal conditions free from dust, mud, and noise. The criteria for assessing public investment do not align with the requirements of rural infrastructure. Indeed, in rural areas, the territorial conditions such as openness to rural–urban markets, access to education and health, environmental protection, culture, and identity are more important than transportation times or traffic volume. Hence, a multicriteria evaluation method is proposed to prioritize the rural road improvements and maximize their contribution to sustainable territorial development. The roads with the highest sustainable contribution are optimized using a multi-objective decision-making analysis and prioritized based on a Manhattan distance. In addition, a fuzzy cognitive map analyzes the dynamic behavior of the optimal roads. Based on this proposal, a case study is applied where fifteen roads are selected from a sample of 101 in the Araucanía Region, Chile. For this, 16 evaluation criteria, 27 indicators, and sustainability’s social, environmental, technical, and economic dimensions are considered. The results detect reduced one-dimensional contributions despite identifying 15 optimal roads that collectively enhance sustainability. Two roads stand out for their long-term sustainability contribution, which are influenced by economic criteria of zonal productivity, tourism, and road maintenance. Thus, this method can help public agencies rank the roads that must be the subject of development projects.

A fuzzy cognitive map approach to selecting the best knowledge management strategy

Purpose Selecting an appropriate strategy can significantly influence an organization’s direction, but numerous interrelated factors make this decision complex and uncertain. Identifying these relationships and making informed decisions often involves navigating uncertainty. This paper aims to assist managers in leveraging the organization’s intellectual assets to select the most suitable knowledge management strategy. Design/methodology/approach This research proposes fuzzy cognitive maps to model and select the appropriate strategy. Given that knowledge is a company’s most valuable asset and its management is critical, the proposed method for selecting a knowledge management strategy was tested in one of Iran’s largest logistics companies. The factors influencing strategy adoption were treated as concepts in the fuzzy cognitive network, with evaluation criteria applied to three strategies: human-oriented, system-oriented and dynamic. Findings The model’s output identifies the most suitable strategy based on knowledge management principles and the specific characteristics of the target project within the organization. Compared to the most cited paper in this field, the proposed model shows a 0.15% improvement in sensitivity and a 0.22% improvement in separation degree. Originality/value This study proposes a novel method using fuzzy cognitive maps to assist organizations in selecting the best knowledge management strategy, even amidst multiple influencing factors and uncertain conditions.

Five strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflict in the Kasigau wildlife corridor of Kenya

Interactions with elephants are increasing throughout the African savannah elephant range as habitat loss and modification and a growing human population continue to bring people and elephants into contact. These interactions can become negative when elephants are tempted into farmland and consume farmers’ crops or destroy water supplies, leading to human-elephant conflict. Each community coping with regular wildlife conflicts faces unique socio-ecological circumstances and constraints. Therefore, understanding the challenges within each system is a crucial step in designing customised management plans and mitigation interventions, adapted to the situation. We used a combination of survey results and participatory group fuzzy logic cognitive maps from six farming communities in south-east Kenya from previous studies, to understand the complex drivers and consequences of conflicts with elephants and how farmers conceptualize these interactions. These data informed the creation of five main strategies for mitigating the impacts of crop-raiding by elephants: deterrent methods, climate-smart agricultural techniques, alternative livelihoods, safety around elephants, and environmental stewardship. We consulted with local experts to design and deliver workshops in the six communities to present potential solutions within the strategies and to provide the content for a take-home manual. Although no single solution has emerged as the ideal way to mitigate these encounters, the workshops demonstrated a variety of approaches that can alleviate the financial and safety concerns of farmers. Future work should include understanding barriers to wider acceptance of such methods and evaluating the efficacy of multifaceted approaches. Creating a customised curriculum for workshops informed by social science data can provide vital information for local people who want to co-exist alongside elephants and other wildlife. Additional keywords: community-based conservation, conservation planning, conservation social science, human-wildlife co-existence

Flexible Learning and Re-ordering of Context-dependent Object Sequences in Nonhuman Primates.

Intelligent behavior involves mentally arranging learned information in novel ways and is particularly well developed in humans. While nonhuman primates (NHP) will learn to arrange new items in complex serial order and re-arrange neighboring items within that order, it has remained contentious whether they are capable to re-assign items more flexibly to non-adjacent positions. Such mental re-indexing is facilitated by inferring the latent temporal structure of experiences as opposed to learning serial chains of item-item associations. Here, we tested the ability for flexible mental re-indexing in rhesus macaques. Subjects learned to serially order five objects. A change of the background context indicated when the object order changed, probing the subjects to mentally re-arrange objects to non-adjacent positions of the learned serial structure. Subjects successfully used the context cue to pro-actively re-index items to new, non-adjacent positions. Mental re-indexing was more likely when the initial order had been learned at a higher level, improved with more experience of the re-indexing rule and correlated with working memory performance in a delayed match-to-sample task. These findings suggest that NHPs inferred the latent serial structure of experiences beyond a chaining of item-item associations and mentally rearrange items within that structure. The pattern of results indicates that NHPs form non-spatial cognitive maps of their experiences, which is a hallmark for flexible mental operations in many serially ordered behaviors including communication, counting or foraging.

Value‐Focused Thinking and Interpretive Structural Modeling in the Development of Resilience‐Enhancing Initiatives in SMEs

ABSTRACTFollowing the aftermath of the COVID‐19 pandemic, small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) have faced growing challenges that underscore the critical need for enhanced organizational resilience. This study aims to bridge the gap in resilience research by offering a structured and practical decision‐support tool to enhance the resilience of SMEs. Adopting a multiple‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach, combining value‐focused thinking (VFT), and interpretative structural modeling (ISM), the study identifies and prioritizes key initiatives and factors affecting SME resilience. Specifically, using a constructivist, process‐oriented methodology, we engaged an expert panel from diverse sectors, including technology, manufacturing, and services, to collaboratively develop a group cognitive map and an interpretive model that guide resilience‐building efforts. The findings highlight a hierarchy of resilience determinants, offering actionable insights for SME managers to structure and implement targeted resilience‐enhancing strategies. The originality of this study lies in its dynamic decision‐support approach, tailored specifically for SMEs, which is particularly relevant in today's volatile, post‐pandemic business environment. The results provide a significant contribution to the field by addressing critical gaps in SME resilience research and offering practical tools for organizational planning.

Mapping Cognition in Epilepsy: From the Lab to the Clinic.

In this article, we provide an overview of our panel presentation at the American Epilepsy Society meeting in December2023. Our presentation reviewed functional mapping methods for epilepsy surgery including well-established and newer methods, focusing mostly on language and memory. Dr Leigh Sepeta (Chair) and Dr Jana Jones (Chair) organized the presentation, which included 5 presenters. Dr Christopher Benjamin discussed the history and current and future mapping practices using functional magnetic resonance imaging; Ms. Freya Prentice reviewed functional mapping of language and memory in pediatric epilepsy; Dr Marla Hamberger compared pros and cons of functional mapping between subdural electrodes and stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG); Dr Donald J. Bearden presented a brief how-to guide on cognitive mapping using SEEG; and Dr Alena Stasenko discussed the complexities of functional mapping of bilingual patients. We have included references for more detailed information on the content of our presentation.

Early and late place cells during postnatal development of the hippocampus

A proportion of hippocampal CA1 neurons function as place cells from the onset of navigation, which are referred to as early place cells. It is not clear whether this subset of neurons is predisposed to become place cells during early stages, or if all neurons have this potential. Here, we longitudinally imaged the activity of CA1 neurons in developing male rats during navigation with both one-photon and two-photon microscopy. Our results suggested that a largely consistent population of cells functioned as early place cells, demonstrating higher spatial coding abilities across environments and a tendency to form more synchronous cell assemblies. Early place cells were present in both deep and superficial layers of CA1. Cells in the deep layer exhibited greater synchrony than those in the superficial layer during early ages. These results support the theory that an initial cognitive map is primarily shaped by a predetermined set of hippocampal cells.