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MENTAL MODEL · M4140

Mental Time Travel

Mental Time Travel
Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportCognitive Psychology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A concept proposed by Endel Tulving: humans can mentally travel back to the past (remembering) and forward to the future (imagining), a capacity that enables complex planning, decision-making, and learning. Mental time travel involves two closely related cognitive processes: episodic memory and future imagination.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Future planning ability. In goal setting, planning, and decision-making, understanding the important influence of mental time travel on future behavior. It helps us improve planning effectiveness by enhancing future imagination, using past experience as guidance, and building a clear goal picture, better preparing for future development.

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Humans can mentally travel back to the past (remembering) and forward to the future (imagining), a capacity that supports complex planning, decision-making, and learning, involving two systems: episodic memory and future imagination.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_time_travelZH · Explicit
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