Human short-term memory capacity is strictly limited to a specific number of items
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 99/100
Human short-term memory capacity is strictly limited to a small number of items, historically estimated around seven chunks by Miller and more recently refined to approximately four items by Cowan and subsequent empirical studies.
Evidence for · 3
The magical number 4 in short-term memory: A reconsideration of mental storage capacity
2001 · cited by 6,496
Cowan's seminal work reviews evidence that human short-term memory has a strict, central capacity limit averaging about four chunks.
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More for · 2
Modelling Working Memory Capacity: Is the Magical Number Four, Seven, or Does it Depend on What You Are Counting?
2024 · cited by 8
Experimental comparisons of working memory models further validate limited attentional and storage capacity limits such as Cowan's four-unit model.
Contributions from Long-Term Memory Explain Superior Visual Working Memory Performance with Meaningful Objects.
2026 · cited by 1
Electrophysiological studies demonstrate that true visual working memory storage limits remain fixed and equivalent across stimulus types when proactive interference is controlled.