What capacity does chunking enhance in memory tasks?

Chunking enhances short-term memory capacity. This cognitive strategy allows individuals to group pieces of information into larger, more manageable units, or "chunks," making it easier to retain and recall that information in a limited-capacity storage system.

For example, rather than remembering a long string of numbers as separate entities, such as 1-9-9-3, a person might group them as the year "1993," allowing for better retention. This technique relies on the idea that short-term memory typically holds a small number of discrete items—in most cases, around 7±2—and chunking increases the effective amount of information stored by organizing it into familiar patterns.

In contrast, long-term memory capacity refers to the storage of information over extended periods and is generally seen as expansive rather than limited. Working memory capacity involves the manipulation and processing of information rather than just holding it temporarily. Sensory memory capacity pertains to initial perceptual input, which maintains information for a very brief duration. Each of these other types of memory has its own characteristics, but chunking specifically targets the improvement of short-term memory by enabling better organization of information.