Natura dei modelli mentali e implicazioni categoriali: un’introduzione

Mental models theory by Johnson-Laird is a theory of mind devoted to offer a uniform image of mental processes within the framework of classical cognitivism. Applied to the study of deductive competence, it has shown to have a particular predictive capability, thanks to the development of computer programs able to simulate actual performances of human beings in solving logical problems. The present paper aims at updating the debate on the nature of Johnson-Laird’s mental models by analysing their relation with mathematical notions relevant for logical enquiry. Links among algebraic properties of logical connectives, perception pat-terns and topology are examined. We will also explore some connections between group theory and graph theory with mental models and propose some implica-tions of Category Theory for potential applications to cognitive science and edu-cation.