In this conversation, Nick Kabrel (doctoral researcher at the University of Zurich and member of the Digital Society Initiative) and I explore the science of cognitive maps—how we navigate the mental territories of our minds, and what happens when those territories expand.
Nick shares insights from his research on mental navigation, sparked by his own phenomenological experience in coaching where each new realization felt like “expansion of the mental territory” he could explore. We discuss how people naturally use spatial metaphors when describing their thinking, how cognitive rigidity can trap us in familiar corners of our mental maps, and why the ability to expand and flexibly navigate our conceptual space may be one of the most crucial skills for the AI age.
Nick reveals surprising findings from his current research on AI adoption—including that people often feel more competent when using AI tools, not less, because they have “a second pair of eyes” that validates their work. The conversation touches on why we resist questioning our own ideas, how interdisciplinary thinking expands our maps, and practical ways to challenge our mental models through AI-assisted reflection and human conversation.
Throughout, we explore how cognitive flexibility—the ability to navigate, expand, and reconstruct our mental maps—may be the foundational capacity underlying all uniquely human skills like creativity, connection, and adaptive thinking. As Nick observes, the shift toward uniquely human capabilities creates space for those who work on “the human stuff.”
Connect with Nick Kabrel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-kabrel/
Link to Nick’s paper discussed in this episode: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17456916251378430
Takeaways
Cognitive maps represent how we navigate conceptual space in our minds.
Every new idea or realization expands the mental territory we can explore.
People naturally use spatial metaphors when describing their thinking and growth.
Cognitive rigidity keeps us trapped in familiar areas of our mental maps.
Cognitive flexibility may be the foundational capacity underlying all uniquely human skills.
AI adoption research reveals people feel more competent with AI tools, not less.
Using AI for critical reflection—not just content creation—expands mental flexibility.
We have cognitive biases that prevent us from questioning our own ideas.
Speaking our thoughts aloud helps us discover what’s already in our mental maps.
Interdisciplinary thinking naturally broadens our conceptual space.
The shift toward human skills makes the world more suitable for humanistic expertise.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Nick Kabrel and Cognitive Maps
03:13 Nick's Work at the Digital Society Initiative
05:15 The Holmes Quote: Minds Stretched by New Ideas
07:12 From Personal Experience to Scientific Framework
12:00 Mental Navigation and Expanding Conceptual Space
18:00 Cognitive Rigidity and Getting Stuck in Mental Corners
24:00 AI, Organizations, and the Change Management Challenge
30:00 How Conversation Expands Mental Territory
36:00 Multiple Perspectives and Map Limitations
42:00 Research on AI Adoption: Surprising Findings on Competence
45:00 Deeper Qualitative Research on GenAI at Work
48:25 The World Adjusting to Human Skills
49:35 Practical Tips: Using AI to Challenge Your Mental Models
51:54 Final Recommendations: Talk, Question, Expand
