Short term memory is limited

Short term memory is limited in a number of ways. Two impactful ways short term memory is limited is time and size. Famously, short term memory can hold 7 items, plus or minus 2.

This limits not only memory, but ability to process complex ideas.

References

• The Magical Number Seven Plus or Minus Two

Backlinks

• Active thinking has an upper limit on complexity
  • Short-term memory is used for active thinking and processing information. Because short term memory is limited to $7\\pm2$ items, this places a clear uppre-limit on the complexity of a thought at a given moment.