# Review of Case-Based Reasoning for LLM Agents: Theoretical Foundations, Architectural Components, and Cognitive Integration

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.06943 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.06943/

## Key facts

- Cited by 12 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Reasoning for agents, planning and code, one of 17 directions in LLM reasoning.
- Builds on 18 of its 44 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 9 Apr 2025.

## Placed in

- LLM reasoning / [Reasoning for agents, planning and code](https://mlsanity.com/lr/reasoning-for-agents-planning-and-code/)
- LLM agents and tool use / [General LLM agent frameworks and benchmarks](https://mlsanity.com/agents/general-llm-agent-frameworks-and-benchmarks/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 18 of 18)

- [Chain-of-Thought Prompting Elicits Reasoning in Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.11903/) (2022)
- [Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Knowledge-Intensive NLP Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.11401/) (2020)
- [Toolformer: Language Models Can Teach Themselves to Use Tools](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.04761/) (2023)
- [Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.03442/) (2023)
- [Tree of Thoughts: Deliberate Problem Solving with Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.10601/) (2023)
- [A Survey on Large Language Model based Autonomous Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.11432/) (2023)
- [Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Large Language Models: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.10997/) (2023)
- [AutoGen: Enabling Next-Gen LLM Applications via Multi-Agent Conversation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.08155/) (2023)
- [The Rise and Potential of Large Language Model Based Agents: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.07864/) (2023)
- [Towards Reasoning in Large Language Models: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.10403/) (2022)
- [Cognitive Architectures for Language Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.02427/) (2023)
- [Check Your Facts and Try Again: Improving Large Language Models with External Knowledge and Automated Feedback](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.12813/) (2023)
- [Tool Learning with Foundation Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.08354/) (2023)
- [DS-Agent: Automated Data Science by Empowering Large Language Models with Case-Based Reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.17453/) (2024)
- [CBR-RAG: Case-Based Reasoning for Retrieval Augmented Generation in LLMs for Legal Question Answering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.04302/) (2024)
- [Position: Episodic Memory is the Missing Piece for Long-Term LLM Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.06975/) (2025)
- [Empowering Working Memory for Large Language Model Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.17259/) (2023)
- [Case-Based Reasoning with Language Models for Classification of Logical Fallacies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.11879/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 12 of 12)

- [Memento: Fine-tuning LLM Agents without Fine-tuning LLMs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.16153/) (2025)
- [A Survey of Context Engineering for Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.13334/) (2025)
- [Agent KB: Leveraging Cross-Domain Experience for Agentic Problem Solving](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.06229/) (2025)
- [XSkill: Continual Learning from Experience and Skills in Multimodal Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.12056/) (2026)
- [LLM-based Agents Suffer from Hallucinations: A Survey of Taxonomy, Methods, and Directions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.18970/) (2025)
- [Case-Based Reasoning Enhances the Predictive Power of LLMs in Drug-Drug Interaction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.23034/) (2025)
- [V-Math: An Agentic Approach to the Vietnamese National High School Graduation Mathematics Exams](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.12251/) (2025)
- [STEMVerse: A Dual-Axis Diagnostic Framework for STEM Reasoning in Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.02497/) (2026)
- [DomAgent: Leveraging Knowledge Graphs and Case-Based Reasoning for Domain-Specific Code Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.21430/) (2026)
- [Cognitive Alignment in Personality Reasoning: Leveraging Prototype Theory for MBTI Inference](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.00115/) (2025)
- [Reviewing the Reviewer: Graph-Enhanced LLMs for E-commerce Appeal Adjudication](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.19267/) (2026)
- [Towards Persistent Case-Based Memory for Autonomous Data Science: A CBR-Augmented R&D-Agent with a Locally Deployable Small Language Model](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.05250/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Agents powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) have recently demonstrated impressive capabilities in various tasks. Still, they face limitations in tasks requiring specific, structured knowledge, flexibility, or accountable decision-making. While agents are capable of perceiving their environments, forming inferences, planning, and executing actions towards goals, they often face issues such as hallucinations and lack of contextual memory across interactions. This paper explores how Case-Based Reasoning (CBR), a strategy that solves new problems by referencing past experiences, can be integrated into LLM agent frameworks. This integration allows LLMs to leverage explicit knowledge, enhancing their effectiveness. We systematically review the theoretical foundations of these enhanced agents, identify critical framework components, and formulate a mathematical model for the CBR processes of case retrieval, adaptation, and learning. We also evaluate CBR-enhanced agents against other methods like Chain-of-Thought reasoning and standard Retrieval-Augmented Generation, analyzing their relative strengths. Moreover, we explore how leveraging CBR's cognitive dimensions (including self-reflection, introspection, and curiosity) via goal-driven autonomy mechanisms can further enhance the LLM agent capabilities. Contributing to the ongoing research on neuro-symbolic hybrid systems, this work posits CBR as a viable technique for enhancing the reasoning skills and cognitive aspects of autonomous LLM agents.