How the Brain Processes Information

Research has shown us that the brain processes information using two channels—visual and auditory.

When information is presented using both channels, the brain can accommodate more new information. By taking advantage of this multimodal processing capability and technology-based tools, we can dramatically enhance audience comprehension and recall through multimedia.

We are at the beginning of a revolution in neuroscience, and yet we know more about how the brain processes information than ever before.

How we process information 

Our ability to process information is a multi-step process that involves the 

perception, attention, selection, organization and integration of information 

(Sweller, 2003).  At the center of this process is long term memory.  As the 

name implies, our long term memory stores our accumulated knowledge.  Our 

accumulated knowledge is organized into ―chunks‖ of information in what are 

known as schema.  Schemas allow us to organize information in meaningful 

ways and help us integrate and organize new information (Chi, Glaser, and Rees, 

1982).  In short, our long term memory is where what we know is stored and 

where we integrate new information.  If information does not find its way into 

long term memory, it is lost.  Learning can be thought of as change in our long 

term memory. 

The limitations of working memory 

Before information can be integrated into long term memory it must be received 

and processed by our working memory.  Working memory is very limited; it 

can only handle small amounts of information before it has to be integrated into 

our long term memory or lost.  In his landmark article on this subject, George 

Miller (1956) suggested that we can only process about seven pieces of 

information at one time.  And, we must do so quickly, as working memory can 

only keep information for about 20 seconds.   

Multiple channels for information processing 

Researchers now believe that there are multiple channels in working memory.  

Baddeley (1992) proposes an auditory and a visual channel. The auditory 

channel handles information that is heard, while the visual channel processes

information that is seen.  Text seems to have unique processing requirements, 

with words initially captured by the visual channel and then converted to sounds 

in the auditory channel (Mayer, 2005)

Research suggests that the visual channel handles less information than the auditory channel (Miler, 2005).  However, when information is presented using both the visual and auditory channels, working 

memory can handle more information overall.  Using multiple channels can increase the amount of 

information that the brain can process (Sweller, 2005).  But, there is still the risk of cognitive 

overload.   Too much information delivered in an ineffective manner can interfere with the brain’s ability to successfully integrate information into long term memory.   visit bizimage.net