Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M2966

Modality Effect

Modality Effect
StructureHigh supportLogic
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-31

CORE DEFINITION

Human working memory has two channels: visual and auditory. When information is presented as "visual image + auditory narration", learning is better than "visual image + visual text", because the latter overloads the visual channel.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Optimize information intake. When watching video lessons or listening to reports, try to choose the mode of "listening + looking at pictures", avoid staring at full-screen text, and free up visual bandwidth for logical thinking.

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Working memory is divided into visual and auditory dual channels. Text and images simultaneously occupy the visual channel and compete for bandwidth; listening to narration with looking at images uses both channels in parallel, reducing load (Mayer's multimedia principle).

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modality_effectZH · Explicit
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