[The Brain's Workspace] | Limits and Applications of Working Memory
You checked your list before going shopping, but once you arrived at the supermarket, you couldn't remember what to buy.
You intended to share your opinion, but when it was your turn to speak, you forgot what you wanted to say.
Have you ever experienced this?
In fact, these phenomena are deeply related to a brain mechanism called "working memory".
Working memory is the brain's workspace that we use daily to temporarily hold and process information.
By understanding the content here, you will be able to understand why forgetfulness occurs and how to deal with it, which can improve the quality of your daily life and learning.
What is working memory?
Working memory is the ability to temporarily hold and simultaneously process information.
If long-term memory is a hard drive, working memory is the place where you keep the data you are currently working on.
For example, when calculating "23 x 4" in your head, you temporarily remember "20 x 4 = 80" and "3 x 4 = 12," and finally integrate them as "80 + 12 = 92".
This series of processes is what uses working memory.
Psychologist Alan Baddeley proposed that working memory consists of multiple components.
"Phonological loop" temporarily holds words and auditory information.
This is what you use when you repeat a phone number in your head to remember it.
"Visuospatial sketchpad" holds visual and spatial information.
It works when you recall directions or imagine rearranging furniture in a room.
And the "Central executive" acts as a command center that oversees these and controls attention.
Working memory has a limited capacity. Psychologist George Miller proposed that the number of items humans can hold at once is about "7 ± 2".
This is known as the "Magical Number 7".
In other words, we can only handle about 5 to 9 pieces of information at the same time.
When this limit is exceeded, information spills out and we forget it.
Also, capacity varies by individual and changes depending on developmental stages and cognitive characteristics.
How to utilize working memory in daily life
So, now that we understand the characteristics of working memory, how should we utilize it in our daily lives?
The most effective method is "chunking".
A chunk means a "group," and by grouping scattered information into a single unit, you can reduce the burden on your working memory.
For example, the phone number "090-1234-5678" consists of 11 digits, but if you remember it as three chunks, you can treat it as something close to three pieces of information.
Even a shopping list becomes much easier to remember if you group items by category, such as "Vegetables: tomatoes, lettuce" and "Meat: chicken, pork."
The next important thing is "utilizing external memory".
Since working memory has its limits, don't try to process everything in your head; actively use external tools like notes, lists, calendars, and reminders.
I personally use task management apps and notes regularly to keep my brain's working memory focused on what I really need to think about.
Leave "remembering" to machines and use your brain's resources for "thinking."
This is likely the smart way to process information in the modern age.
Also, "avoiding multitasking" is important.
When you try to do multiple things at once, your working memory is spread thin, and everything ends up half-done.
Looking at your smartphone while talking or studying while watching TV are actions that significantly lower efficiency.
Focus on one thing, and move to the next only after finishing it.
By being conscious of single-tasking, you can maximize your working memory.
Furthermore, research results suggest that training called "n-back tasks," meditation, and aerobic exercise are also effective in improving working memory.
Summary
Working memory is the brain's workspace for us to think, learn, and solve problems.
And its capacity is limited, so the amount of information that can be processed at once is restricted.
That is why we forget shopping lists or lose track of what was said in a conversation.
However, if you understand this mechanism, countermeasures are possible.
Chunk information, use external tools wisely, and avoid multitasking to stay focused.
With these adjustments, you can make the most of your limited working memory.
By knowing how to use it, working memory becomes a powerful weapon that can significantly improve your performance in daily life, learning, and work.
Why not start processing information with working memory in mind, little by little, starting today?
That is all, thank you for sticking with me until the end!
This was the 72nd installment of Tamochi's continuous posting project, [The Brain's Workspace] | Limits and Applications of Working Memory.
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If you are interested in other articles, please check out my article introduction here!
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