MENTAL MAP

Tend to be more flexible and personal than concept maps.

Are used to slice and dice the map’s central topic or concept in multiple ways.

May contain images and color, to make them more visually stimulating

Topics may only have a single parent

CONEPTUAL MAP

Are commonly used to organize and represent tacit knowledge.

Usually contain general concepts at the top of the map, with more specific concepts arrayed hierarchically below.

Connector lines usually contains keywords or phrases that summarize the relationship between the topics they connect. Such as topic a “causes” topic B.

Topics may be cross-linked with each other to depict more complex relationships between topics. Topics in mind maps may only have one parent; in a concept map, a topic may have multiple connector lines, each one representing a different relationship.