What is cognitive load?

Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental effort being utilized in the working memory at any given time. This concept is important in cognitive psychology as it helps to understand how much information an individual can process simultaneously without becoming overwhelmed.

When the cognitive load is high, it becomes difficult for a person to focus and process new information effectively, which can adversely affect learning and performance. Recognizing and managing cognitive load is vital in instructional design and learning environments to ensure that learners are not overloaded with information that they cannot adequately process.

The other options, while related to memory and cognitive processes, do not capture the essence of cognitive load. The amount of information stored in long-term memory pertains to memory storage rather than the working memory effort involved in processing information. The difficulty level of a task is more about task characteristics rather than the individual's mental capacity utilization. Duration of memory retention refers to how long information stays in memory rather than the active mental effort required to work with that information.