In this chapter, an overview of the wide variety of occurrences of mental models in the literature is discussed. They are classified according to two dimensions obtaining four categories of mental models: static-dynamic and world-mental, where static refers to mental models for static world states or for static mental states and dynamic refers to mental models for world processes or for mental processes. In addition, distinctions are made for what can be done by mental models: they can, for example, be (1) used for internal simulation, they can be (2) adapted, and these processes can be (3) controlled. This leads to a global three-level cognitive architecture covering these three ways of handling mental models. It is discussed that in this cognitive architecture reflection principles play an important role to define the interactions between the different levels.@en

Religion is an important aspect of many individuals’ lives. A central element of it is a mental God-model. Such a mental God-model can have different forms and depending on that it has a specific influence on human behaviour. This has been extensively studied from different perspectives. The current study uses a number of these perspectives as a basis for an integrative adaptive network model for formation and use of a mental God-model. It describes the mental states involved, their mutual relations, and the adaptation of some of these relations over time due to learning. Based on the obtained network model, simulations can be done for almost any kind of religion and person, showing different behaviours for persons with different religious backgrounds and characters. The focus here was mainly on the very relevant topic of the influence of religion on human empathy and disempathy. The developed adaptive network model can be valuable for many uses, involving support for a better understanding, and even prediction, of the behaviour of religious individuals and its underlying mechanisms. It is illustrated for a number of different scenarios for different types of persons and religions.@en

This chapter describes a second-order adaptive network model for mental processes making use of shared mental models (SMM) for team performance. The chapter illustrates on the one hand the value of adequate SMM’s for safe and efficient team performance and on the other hand in cases of imperfections of such shared team models how this complicates the team performance. To this end, the adaptive network model covers use, adaptation and control of the shared mental model. It is illustrated for an application context of a medical team performing a tracheal intubation, executed by a nurse and a medical specialist. Simulations illustrate how the adaptive network model is able to address the type of complications that can occur in realistic scenarios.@en

In this chapter, joint decision making processes are studied and the role of cognitive metaphors as mental models in them. A second-order self-modeling network model is introduced based on mechanisms known from cognitive and social neuroscience and cognitive metaphor and mental model literature. The cognitive metaphors were modeled as specific forms of mental models providing a form of modulation within the joint decision making process. The model addresses not only the use of these mental models in the decision making, but also their Hebbian learning and the control over the learning. The obtained self-modeling network model was applied to two types of metaphors that affect joint decision making in different manners: a cooperative metaphor and a competitive metaphor. By a number of scenarios it was shown how the obtained self-modeling network model can be used to simulate and analyze joint decision processes and how they are influenced by such cognitive metaphors.@en

This paper describes a network model for mental processes making use of shared mental models (SMM) of team performance. The paper illustrates the value of adequate SMM’s for safe and efficient team performance. The addressed application context is that of a medical team performing a tracheal intubation executed by a nurse and a medical specialist. Simulations of successful and unsuccessful team performance have been performed, some of which are presented. The paper discusses potential further elaborations for future research as well as implications for other domains of team performance.@en

In this paper, an overview of the wide variety of occurrences of mental models in the literature is discussed. They are classified according to two dimensions obtaining four categories of them: static-dynamic and world-mental, where static refers to mental models for static world states or for static mental states and dynamic refers to mental models for world processes or for mental processes. In addition, distinctions are made for what can be done by mental models: they can, for example, be (1) used for internal simulation, they can be (2) adapted, and these processes can be (3) controlled. This leads to a global three-level cognitive architecture covering these three ways of handling mental models. It is discussed that in this cognitive architecture reflection principles play an important role to define the interactions between the different levels.@en

This paper describes a second-order adaptive network model for mental processes making use of shared mental models for team performance. The paper illustrates the value of adequate shared mental models for safe and efficient team performance and in cases of imperfections of such shared team models how this complicates the team performance. It is illustrated for a context of a medical team performing a tracheal intubation. Simulations illustrate how the adaptive network model is able to address the type of complications that can occur in realistic scenarios.@en

In this paper, joint decision making processes are studied and the role of cognitive metaphors as mental models in them. A second-order self-modeling network model is introduced based on mechanisms known from cognitive and social neuroscience and cognitive metaphor and mental model literature. The cognitive metaphors were modeled as specific forms of mental models providing a form of modulation within the joint decision making process. The model addresses not only the use of these mental models in the decision making, but also their hebbian learning and the control over the learning. The obtained self-modeling network model was applied to two types of metaphors that affect joint decision making in different manners: a cooperative metaphor and a competitive metaphor. By a number of scenarios it was shown how the obtained self-modeling network model can be used to simulate and analyze joint decision processes and how they are influenced by such cognitive metaphors.@en

This chapter contributes an analysis of how in mental and social processes, humans often apply specific mental models and learn and adapt them in a controlled manner. It is discussed how controlled adaptation relates to the Plasticity Versus Stability Conundrum in neuroscience. From the analysis an informal three-level cognitive architecture for controlled adaptation was obtained. It is discussed here from a self-modeling network viewpoint how this cognitive architecture can be modeled as a self-modeling network. Making use of the specific network characteristics offered by the self-modeling network structure format, a large number of options for different types of adaptation of mental models and different types of control over adaptation of mental models were obtained. Many of these options were illustrated by a several realistic examples that were formalized by self-modeling networks. Other options that were distinguished from the analysis here, are offered as interesting options for future research.@en

Within their mental and social processes, humans often learn, adapt and apply specific mental models of processes in the world or other persons, as a kind of blueprints. In this paper, it is discussed how analysis of this provides useful inspiration for the development of new computational approaches from a Machine Learning and Network-Oriented Modeling perspective. Three main elements are: applying the mental model by internal simulation, developing and revising a mental model by some form of adaptation, and exerting control over this adaptation in a context-sensitive manner. This concept of controlled adaptation relates to the Plasticity Versus Stability Conundrum from neuroscience. The presented analysis has led to a three-level computational architecture for controlled adaptation. It is discussed and illustrated by examples of applications how this three-level computational architecture can be specified based on a self-modeling network and used to model controlled learning and adaptation processes based on mental models in a context-sensitive manner.@en

This paper contributes an analysis of how in mental and social processes, humans often apply specific mental models and learn and adapt them in a controlled manner. It is discussed how controlled adaptation relates to the Plasticity Versus Stability Conundrum in neuroscience. From the analysis an informal three-level cognitive architecture for controlled adaptation was obtained. It is discussed here from a self-modeling network viewpoint how this cognitive architecture can be modeled as a self-modeling network. Making use of the specific network characteristics offered by the self-modeling network structure format, a large number of options for different types of adaptation of mental models and different types of control over adaptation of mental models were obtained. Many of these options were illustrated by a several realistic examples that were formalized by self-modeling networks. Other options that were distinguished from the analysis here, are offered as interesting options for future research.@en