Modelling Analogies and Analogical Reasoning: Connecting Cognitive Science Theory and NLP Research
On the map: LLM reasoning → Reasoning benchmarks and evaluation
Abstract (arXiv)
Analogical reasoning is an essential aspect of human cognition. In this paper, we summarize key theory about the processes underlying analogical reasoning from the cognitive science literature and relate it to current research in natural language processing. While these processes can be easily linked to concepts in NLP, they are generally not viewed through a cognitive lens. Furthermore, we show how these notions are relevant for several major challenges in NLP research, not directly related to analogy solving. This may guide researchers to better optimize relational understanding in text, as opposed to relying heavily on entity-level similarity.
Key facts. Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Reasoning benchmarks and evaluation, one of 17 directions in LLM reasoning. Builds on 16 of its 131 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 11 Sep 2025.
Builds on
16 of 131 references.
Closest ancestors · 4
Same direction, newest first
- 2024LLMs as Models for Analogical Reasoning19 Jun
- 2024Using Counterfactual Tasks to Evaluate the Generality of Analogical Reasoning in Large Language Models14 Feb
- 2023Response: Emergent analogical reasoning in large language models30 Aug
- 2022Understanding Narratives through Dimensions of Analogy14 Jun
Other references · 12
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- 2024Predicting drug-gene relations via analogy tasks with word embeddingscited by 1
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2025: 1; 2026: 2.
3 papers.
- 2025Measuring Combinatorial Creativity in Large Language Models and Humanscited by 7
- 2026Enhancing Structural Mapping with LLM-derived Abstractions for Analogical Reasoning in Narrativescited by 1
- 2026Transformer See, Transformer Do: Copying as an Intermediate Step in Learning Analogical Reasoningcited by 0
- 2026Transformer See, Transformer Do: Copying as an Intermediate Step in Learning Analogical Reasoning7 Apr 2026
- 2026Enhancing Structural Mapping with LLM-derived Abstractions for Analogical Reasoning in Narratives31 Mar 2026
- 2025Measuring Combinatorial Creativity in Large Language Models and Humans25 Sep 2025
Similar, not cited
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- 2025The Curious Case of Analogies: Investigating Analogical Reasoning in Large Language Models
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- 2023ANALOGYKB: Unlocking Analogical Reasoning of Language Models with A Million-scale Knowledge Base
- 2023Can language models learn analogical reasoning? Investigating training objectives and comparisons to human performance
- 2024AnaloBench: Benchmarking the Identification of Abstract and Long-context Analogies
- 2023In-Context Analogical Reasoning with Pre-Trained Language Models
- 2024Evaluating the Robustness of Analogical Reasoning in Large Language Models