4 ms·
That digit span test is incredibly irritating. I've done it 10 times by now and I can't get more than 9 digits. On a more philosophical note, I've wondered if
by drenvuk 6y ago
That digit span test is incredibly irritating. I've done it 10 times by now and I can't get more than 9 digits.
On a more philosophical note, I've wondered if there are some outstanding math or even societal problems that could've been solved already if humans had the capability of holding onto 13 or 15 more things at a time rather than just 7ish. It always feels like we're going to be limited in some way with regards to that if the problem is incapable of being broken down or collapsed.
- tchaffee 6y agoMaybe it's the opposite. Just like there are likely evolutionary advantages to some of our cognitive biases (better to mistake a rock for a bear than the opposite), it might be worth considering if holding on to more than seven things has disadvantages.
- pbw 6y agoYeah very few people can get more than 9 digits consistently, that's the whole point really, 7 plus or minus 2. Interestingly chimps do have better working memory than we do, checkout this crazy video: https://youtu.be/nTgeLEWr614?t=8 https://youtu.be/nTgeLEWr614?t=8