What is a schema?

A cognitive schema is a mental representation of knowledge stored in the brain about anything, for example a place or an event. A schema can be seen as a network of knowledge, beliefs and expectations about particular aspects of the world. Schemas help us to save cognitive resources, as we can use general rules of thumb rather than specific details when thinking about something when a schema is evoked. Schema processing is mostly automatic. It involves input from the senses as well as information stored in one's memory.