Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
5-2013
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".
Keywords
working memory, cognitive systems, hierarchical chunking
Discipline
Databases and Information Systems | OS and Networks
Research Areas
Data Science and Engineering
Publication
International Journal of Neural Systems
Volume
23
Issue
4
First Page
1
Last Page
12
ISSN
0129-0657
Identifier
10.1142/S0129065713500196
Publisher
World Scientific Publishing
Citation
LI, Guoqi; NING, Ning; RAMANATHAN, Kiruthika; HE, Wei; PAN, Li; and SHI, Luping.
Behind the magical numbers: Hierarchical chunking and the human working memory capacity. (2013). International Journal of Neural Systems. 23, (4), 1-12.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/7265
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
http://doi.org/10.1142/S0129065713500196