cognitive-science

name: cognitive-science description: Cognitive science fundamentals license: MIT compatibility: opencode metadata: audience: machine-learning-engineers category: interdisciplinary

What I do

• Apply cognitive science to AI design
• Understand human cognition for better UX
• Design human-centered AI systems
• Model cognitive processes
• Create intuitive interfaces

When to use me

Use me when:

• Building human-centered AI
• Designing intuitive interfaces
• Understanding user mental models
• Improving AI interpretability

Key Concepts

Cognitive Principles for AI

• Mental Models: Users have internal representations
• Attention: Limited capacity, needs prioritization
• Memory: Working memory constraints, chunking
• Decision Making: Bounded rationality

Cognitive Load in UI

# Principles to reduce cognitive load
design_principles = {
    "progressive_disclosure": "Show complexity gradually",
    "chunking": "Group related items (7±2)",
    "visual_hierarchy": "Guide attention",
    "consistency": "Reduce learning",
    "feedback": "Confirm actions",
    "recognition_vs_recall": "Minimize memory load"
}

User Mental Models

• Match system to user's conceptual model
• Use familiar metaphors
• Provide clear affordances
• Enable undo and recovery
• Manage expectations

Applying Cognitive Science

• Information Processing: Input → Processing → Output
• Dual Process Theory: System 1 (fast, intuitive) + System 2 (slow, deliberate)
• Gestalt Principles: Proximity, similarity, continuity
• Fitts's Law: Time to reach target depends on distance/size