Source-monitoring is a cognitive model for attributing the origin of information — distinguishing self-generated from externally-sourced memories and knowledge. Its parameters are: (1) source categories — perceptual (sensed), cognitive (reasoned), imagined (fantasized); (2) attribution criteria — color, clarity, coherence, and contextual detail of the remembered experience; (3) monitoring stages — encoding source features, storing them alongside content, retrieving them at attribution time. It persists through cognitive psychology research, neuroimaging studies, and clinical assessment protocols. [formal: source_monitoring | substrate: mind | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
source-monitoring
Source-monitoring is a cognitive model for attributing the origin of information — distinguishing self-generated from externally-sourced memories and knowledge. Its parameters are: (1) source categories — perceptual (sensed), cognitive (re…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made cognitive model for tracking the origins of memories, knowledge, and beliefs — distinguishing self-generated from externally-sourced information. Built to persist through cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and educational theory.
Names and aliases
- source-monitoringen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrp6yh8g06g3d1nl406bo1weDEPENDS_ON →
Remove working-memory and source-monitoring stops operating: you cannot simultaneously hold content and source information for comparison without working memory. The removal test passes — it is not merely sayable, but operationally necessary.
- cmrf51qwi005rcqqtmpyziy84DEPENDS_ON →
Source monitoring — the process of determining the origin of memories, knowledge, or beliefs — depends on memory to function. It requires remembering where and when information was encountered to distinguish sources. Remove memory and source monitoring has nothing to monitor. The removal test passes: no memory, no source monitoring.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 23, 2026, 10:22 PM UTC
- Content hash
- bd444467fba28114b66a74fa73c6ca59bd767737ddb69f895cc4cf8959865258