BIO 420

Automatic Term Mapping (ATM) is a process that happens in the background of most PubMed searches.  The database takes the terms that you have entered into the search box and attempts to interpret them and map them to the appropriate MeSH Terms.

In most everyday or casual searches, the ATM feature will help your search by not requiring you to put as many terms into the search box or build more complex search queries.  However, sometimes the ATM process can go in an unexpected or undesired direction. 

For example, (hemorrhage) returns to many results because it maps to blood. 

Another example is sputum culture.

To see how your terms are being mapped, you can view your Search Details in your Search History.

• Click on the Advanced Search link underneath the search box
• Scroll to the bottom of the Advanced Search page to view your Search History
• Find the line of your Search History that you would like to look at
• Click on the arrow icon underneath the heading Search Details to expand out the details section
• This will then display the search you entered, the full search that was actually run by the database, and all of the individual term translations that took place