the 7 ± 2 theory

The 7 ± 2 theory, proposed by psychologist George Miller, suggests that the average person can hold about 5 to 9 pieces of information in their short-term memory at one time. This means our brains have a limited capacity for temporarily storing data, like phone numbers or lists, before needing to process or store it elsewhere. It highlights why organizing information into chunks or groups can help us remember more effectively, as it makes better use of our cognitive capacity.