MCAT Psych/Soc Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Study Guide

Working memory is a cognitive system that temporarily holds and manipulates information for tasks such as reasoning and comprehension. The capacity of working memory is often described by Miller's Law, which posits that the typical limit for the amount of information that can be managed is between 5 and 9 pieces, often more specifically cited as 7 ± 2 pieces of information. This range captures the idea that working memory is limited in capacity but is critical for various cognitive tasks, such as problem-solving and thinking.

The selected answer accurately reflects this widely accepted view in cognitive psychology, showcasing the limitations of our short-term memory capabilities when laden with tasks requiring mental processing.