The capacity of memory loci in artificial memory

The ancient mnemonic system of artificial memory taught a two-part process. First, a set of successive locations was committed to memory; then lists were memorized through making bizarre associations between successive list items and successive locations. This study measures the capacity of locations in artificial memory. A set of 32 English words were the list items. One, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 locations were used, as well as a control condition in which no mnemonic instructions were given. The results approximate a normal ogive, with the 50% point of accurate recall occurring with 8 locations, i.e., four items per location.