Cognitive load
Tell memory demands from logic demands before choosing a method
Classify what a board actually requires: retained facts, visible deductions, or practiced recognition.
A constructed classification model for puzzle practice. It does not assess any person’s memory or diagnose cognitive ability.
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“Remember this” and “derive this” are different tasks
Some puzzles fail because the player cannot hold identities, positions, or orders in mind. Others fail because the player has not derived a consequence from visible information. Practice methods differ: memory-heavy tasks benefit from grouping and spacing; logic-heavy tasks benefit from writing implications and testing them.
Many boards mix both. The goal is not to purge memory work, but to avoid using logic effort on facts that should be written down and memory effort on facts that are already visible.
Ask what must survive between looks
List the facts you need after the next move. Mark each one as visible, derived, or remembered. A visible fact can be read again. A derived fact can be reproduced from visible facts. A remembered fact has no current backup on the screen.
The memory load is the number of remembered facts you must maintain after subtracting those that are actually derivable. Two or three may be manageable. A growing pile suggests that you should externalize the board state or choose a safer route.
Facts needed after the next move: 1. Tube B exposes color A visible 2. C cannot connect to D yet derived from the visible graph 3. The covered left tile is F remembered Memory load: 3 remembered - 1 derivable = 2 facts.
Use different reps for different loads
For a memory-heavy state, practice grouping: turn scattered facts into one meaningful route, such as “red is under both blockers on the left.” Repeat after a short break instead of staring continuously.
For a logic-heavy state, practice implication: write what each visible fact forbids or permits. If two visible facts force a third, say the third aloud before moving. Recognition often improves when the deduction is named rather than vaguely sensed.
| Symptom | More likely load | Useful practice |
|---|---|---|
| You forget which covered piece was which | Memory | Group facts into a route or use a written key. |
| You see the pieces but miss a forced consequence | Logic | Write each visible fact’s immediate implication. |
| You know the rule but apply it late | Attention or method | Add a named pre-move check. |
| You rush because the board looks familiar | Recognition bias | Rescan as if the arrangement changed. |
Three facts can be only two units of load
A state may need three facts after the next move, but one of them can be derived from the visible graph. The model subtracts the derivable fact, leaving two facts that truly require memory.
This matters because reducing the actual memory load is often easier than improving memory. Reveal a label, draw the connection, or choose a branch that repeats one fact soon.
Remembered facts: 3 Derivable facts: 1 Actual memory load: 2 Repair: choose a route that refreshes one remembered fact sooner.
Avoid diagnosing people
This model classifies a task, not a person. A high load today may come from fatigue, glare, a small screen, an unfamiliar language, or an ambiguous rule. Those conditions can create apparent memory failures.
If a board feels overwhelming, first remove avoidable load: improve contrast, use labels, reduce visible choices, or play a shorter session. Then decide whether the remaining demand is one you want to practice.
