The Magical Mystery Four: How Is Working Memory Capacity Limited, and Why?

被引:730
作者
Cowan, Nelson [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Missouri, Dept Psychol Sci, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
基金
美国国家卫生研究院;
关键词
working memory capacity limits; central storage capacity limits; chunking; grouping; core capacity; ATTENTION; STORAGE;
D O I
10.1177/0963721409359277
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
Working memory storage capacity is important because cognitive tasks can be completed only with sufficient ability to hold information as it is processed. The ability to repeat information depends on task demands but can be distinguished from a more constant, underlying mechanism: a central memory store limited to 3 to 5 meaningful items for young adults. I discuss why this central limit is important, how it can be observed, how it differs among individuals, and why it may exist.
引用
收藏
页码:51 / 57
页数:7
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