key term - Capacity

Definition

Capacity refers to the maximum amount of information that can be held in short-term memory at any given time. It is often described as limited, with a typical capacity of around seven plus or minus two items.

Related terms

Chunking:

Chunking is the process of organizing information into smaller, meaningful units or chunks. By grouping related items together, you can increase the capacity of your short-term memory.

Interference:

Interference occurs when new information disrupts the retrieval or storage of previously learned information in short-term memory.

Decay: Decay refers to the fading or weakening of memories over time if they are not actively rehearsed or encoded into long-term memory. Memories that are not reinforced may eventually be forgotten.