Mental models/Cognitive Load Theory
Cognitive Load & Information Processing

Cognitive Load Theory

John Sweller's theory that learning and task performance are affected by the total amount of mental activity imposed on working memory at any given time.

In plain language

Every element on screen consumes mental bandwidth. The best designs do the thinking for the user, not with them.

In the wild

Implementations of this model aren’t wired to this view yet — they live in the implementations table.

Related modelsCognitive Load & Information Processing
Chunking
Cognitive Load & Information Processing
Dual Coding
Cognitive Load & Information Processing
Fitts's Law
Cognitive Load & Information Processing
Hick's Law
Cognitive Load & Information Processing