Cognative Overload

The other day I learned about a new theory, Cognative Load, while several of us spoke with the administration about how the program can better itself either for the last three weeks this semester and/or for classes to come.  Little known to many of us when we applied, we were the first class to start the accelerated program in the fall and the first to complete Level 3 in 10 weeks versus the normal 14 week semester.  Talk about being a ginnie pig. 

The faculty member leading the discussion started to talk about Cognative Overload, something she suspected we had after talking with us for fifteen or so minutes.  This cognitive psychology term discusses how information is controlled and the process of working memory (A.K.A what actually retains the information you are learning).  If too much information is given, hello overload, the brain is not able to process and store said information because the working memory has been maxed out.  In order for new information to be retained, the previous information needs to be processed and stored. 

 

Unfortunately, do to the speed of the program and amount of information which has to be stored, many of use are utilizing our short term memory; with only a few days to study for exams we are not able to create those longer lasting synapses which will come in handy once we start practicing.  The more information which has to be processed at one time means the more difficult it is to translate the information into one's working memory. 

So apparently your brain can be too full of knowledge.  And without letting everything sink in you can have a major information overload.  Who knew?!?