Memory Test

Please memorize this string of numbers:

UBCETEC 512

ETEC 512

Memory Test

Please memorize this string of numbers:

ETEC 512

1 – 914 – 191 – 81 – 93 – 919 – 4 – 5

Take no more than 20 seconds.

Now go to the next page...

Memory Test

Chunking

ETEC 512

In the 1950’s, George A. Miller introduced the concept of “chunking”. Miller argued that our brains can only retain a limited amountof information (seven items, plus or minus two) in short-term memory. However, we can boost retention if we can “chunk” anumber of items into a larger category.Implicit in this approach was the assumption that the brainstores information in a hierarchy, and can retrieve a large data set by referencing a category in that hierarchy.Other theorists have refered to this hierarchy of information as a“schema”.

Memory Test

Do you remember the string of numbers?

Can you say them out loud?

ETEC 512

Memory Test

Here they are again:

ETEC 512

1 – 914 – 191 – 81 – 93 – 919 – 4 – 5

N0w here they are arranged a little differently:

1914 – 1918 1939 – 1945

Memory Test

Please memorize this string of numbers:

1 – 914 – 191 – 81 – 93 – 919 – 4 – 51914 – 1918 1939 – 1945

They are the same numbers.The difference is that the top string is data.The bottom string is information (i.e. “in formation”).The bottom string is “chunked” according to a schema, allowingus to memorize it almost instantly.

ETEC 512

Memory TestETEC 512

This exercise was created

by Thom Quine

Examining the brain