PsychologyJuly 17, 2026

chunking

CHUNG-king

Definition

A cognitive process where the brain organizes individual pieces of information into larger, meaningful units to improve memory and efficiency.

Etymology

Derived from the English word 'chunk,' which emerged in the late 17th century, possibly as a variant of 'chump.' The specific psychological sense of 'chunking' was popularized by cognitive psychologist George A. Miller in his seminal 1956 paper.

In the news

In this article, chunking is used to explain how the brain converts a sequence of habits into a single, automatic unit. This process allows people to maintain routines more easily by reducing the cognitive effort required for each individual action.

Psychologists say the secret to better health isn't doing more — it's doing less, in the right order

Read the full article ↗

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