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Other literature type . 2026
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Research . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Research . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Co-Cognition: Canonical Definition and Concept Paper

Authors: Jacobs, A.;

Co-Cognition: Canonical Definition and Concept Paper

Abstract

This paper defines Co-Cognition as a core concept within the broader Reality Drift framework, describing the distributed cognitive process through which human thought and external systems, particularly AI systems, operate in shared feedback loops to generate, refine, and apply representations. Rather than functioning as passive tools, external systems increasingly participate in the recursive production of cognition itself. In this process, outputs from human and machine systems become inputs for subsequent stages of thought, creating distributed reasoning loops that extend cognition across internal and external layers. The paper examines the structural mechanisms underlying co-cognitive systems, including recursive compression, semantic fidelity, cognitive grounding, and constraint preservation. As a canonical concept paper within the Reality Drift framework, it provides the primary definitional basis for understanding how cognition becomes distributed across human and artificial systems and how drift can emerge when those shared loops lose alignment with reality.

Keywords

distributed cognition, cognitive drift, AI thought partner, cognitive science, augmented cognition, philosophy of technology, AI-assisted thinking, artificial intelligence, externalized thinking, recursive feedback loop, semantic fidelity, extended mind, human-in-the-loop reasoning, co-cognition, AI-mediated cognition, cognitive scaffolding, human computer interaction, knowledge systems, human-AI cognition, cognitive grounding, intent preservation, recursive compression, information theory

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green