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Schema drift: Relational concepts and conceptual change.
Richard Vagnino1, Caren Walker2
1Department of Philosophy, University of California San Diego, United States of America.
Cognition
|January 6, 2026
Summary
Abstract schemas, which guide analogical reasoning, can change with use. Our experiments show that these schemas drift under specific conditions, impacting future problem-solving.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- Analogical reasoning transfers knowledge from familiar sources to unfamiliar targets.
- This process relies on mapping relational structures and forming abstract schemas.
- Schemas aid in identifying and reasoning about future similar situations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether abstract schemas, central to analogical reasoning, change with repeated use.
- To explore the conditions under which these schemas might drift.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted to examine schema alterations.
- The study focused on changes in abstract schemas rather than source/target representations.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests that abstract schemas are not static.
- Schemas demonstrated a drift under specific experimental conditions.
Conclusions:
- Abstract schemas can be modified through experience and use.
- This finding has implications for understanding learning and adaptation in analogical reasoning.
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