Behind the magical numbers: hierarchical chunking and the human working memory capacity
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
Published on: June 12, 2017
Guoqi Li1, Ning Ning, Kiruthika Ramanathan
1Data Storage Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A*STAR, Singapore. LI_Guoqi@dsi.a-star.edu.sg
Abstract:
To explore the influence of chunking on the capacity limits of working memory, a model for chunking in sequential working memory is proposed, using hierarchical bidirectional inhibition-connected neural networks with winnerless competition. With the assumption of the existence of an upper bound to the inhibitory weights in neurobiological networks, it is shown that chunking increases the number of memorized items in working memory from the "magical number 7" to 16 items. The optimal number of chunks and the number of the memorized items in each chunk are the "magical number 4".
More Related Videos
10:38A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
14:24An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze
Published on: July 29, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Chunking
The principle behind chunking is...
Working Memory
Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory
Storage
Impact of Schemas
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness