Cognitive model
The term cognitive model can have basically two meanings. In cognitive psychology, a model is a simplified representation of reality. The essential quality of such a model is to help deciding the appropriate actions, i.e. the actions ensuring that a given goal is reached (see mental model).
In cognitive science, a cognitive model is a model of cognitive processes. Briefly put, it is the use of computers to model cognitive behavior (and sometimes the study of cognitive behavior to improve the usage of computers). Cognitive models are used to study e.g. intelligent or social behaviour, and emergent properties of a connectionist architecture.
Cognitive modelling in the latter sense can be understood as reverse engineering some aspects of human cognition by means of artificial intelligence and machine learning in order to better understand these aspects.
In contrast to a cognitive architecture, a model does not necessarily have an explanation to all aspects of cognition (cf. holistic approach), but focuses on particular cognitive processes. Many cognitive models use the framework of nouvelle AI, especially the paradigm of connectionism, to overcome a perceived poor biological plausibility of GOFAI (Good Old Fashioned AI). Some of the most popular frameworks for cognitive modeling include ACT-R and Soar.