Abstract: Nowadays, human society has entered the ternary spaces, where geographical space, human space and information space are integrated. Driven by new technologies and demands, the three basic elements of map spatial cognition, cognitive subject, object and expression, have shown generalized characteristics. The existing map spatial cognition theories and methods can no longer support the accurate cognitive expression of pan-maps. Therefore, this paper first summarizes the progress of map spatial cognition research at home and abroad and its limitations, including the extension of cognitive subject studies, visualization of information space, usability of novel pan-map representation.Then, we propose a pan-map spatial cognition research framework, including experimental methodology, cognitive mechanism, and expression model. To the end, we hope that this paper can provide deep insights for future studies and promote the establishment of related theories and methods that adapt to the development trend of pan-maps, so as to solve a series of problems brought by the continuous generalization of elements of map spatial cognition.