Introduction to Fuzzy Cognitive Maps

This chapter gives a short introduction to Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs). It starts with the origin and first applications of Cognitive Maps, then describes the theoretical background of FCMs. Based on the cognitive model, simulations can be performed in order to predict the dynamic behavior of the system and support decision making tasks. The widely applied variations of implementation details are also covered, including their effect on model properties and behavior. A simple example is given to help understanding the theoretical parts, and a short outlook is provided to the possible ways of model creation, too.