What is the main purpose of chunking in memory?

Chunking primarily serves to increase the capacity of short-term memory by grouping individual pieces of information into larger, manageable units or "chunks." This technique allows individuals to hold more information in memory at one time than they could with ungrouped data. For instance, rather than memorizing a long string of numbers like 149217761941, one could break it down into chunks, such as 1492, 1776, and 1941, making it easier to remember.

While chunking can also play a role in enhancing long-term memory and may assist in recall tasks, its fundamental function is specifically linked to boosting the efficiency and capacity of short-term memory. This is crucial for tasks that require immediate processing of information, such as working on math problems or recalling a phone number momentarily.