<p>The source you mention is a web blog about computer and office work. The blog doesn't describe a '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory" rel="nofollow">theory</a>', not even a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothesis" rel="nofollow">hypothesis</a> for that matter, it just outlines a starting point for a popular scientific blog on cognitive load in everyday life. It all depends on the task what adds mental load. Every input, let it be acoustic (e.g. speech), visual (e.g. computer tasks), touch or internal mental processes can all increase cognitive load. </p>

<p>I can recommend reading the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_load" rel="nofollow">wiki page on cognitive load</a> as a starting point to better understand different aspects of <strong><a href="http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/cognitive-load.html" rel="nofollow">cognitive load theory</a></strong>. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-02T08:22:25.953Z
2016-08-03T12:02:41.180Z
2016-08-03T12:02:41.180Z
AliceD
<p>I'm a current PhD student in Cognitive Load Theory, and I have to agree with @Christiaan above, the article you refer to is just a blog, and doesn't refer to any theory specifically.</p>

<p>IF the article is referring to Cognitive Load Theory itself, then there are 3 described types of cognitive load.</p>

<ol>
<li>Intrinsic Load - The load for how innately difficult the task is to the learner (this varies based on previous expertise).</li>
<li>Extraneous Load - The load for how effective the instructional strategy or materials being presented are (bad instructions from a teacher or poorlly designed worksheets increase this type of load).</li>
<li>Germane Load - the load devoted to actual learning, that is information processing, integration and schema acquisition.</li>
</ol>

<p>Your article mentions different sensory inputs, and while there are aspects of CLT that relate to different types of sensory input, they aren't ever referred to as 'kinds of cognitive load'. If anything these may be referred to as 'working memory channels' based on Baddeley &amp; Hitch's model of working memory.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-15T03:38:19.910Z
2016-08-15T03:38:19.910Z
monotreme
<p>I don't understand this theory that states there are only three kinds of mental loads:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The theory is that there are basically three different kinds of
  demands or loads that you can make on a person: Cognitive (thinking
  and remembering), Visual, and Motor.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://www.blog.theteamw.com/2011/02/17/100-things-you-should-know-about-people-60-cognitive-loads-are-the-most-expensive/#comments" rel="nofollow">Source</a>, Posted on February 17, 2011 by Susan Weinschenk.</p>

<p>What about things like listening to someone speak? Or if someone's learning to play a musical instrument and is trying to hit the right note. Is this only in the context of interaction design. </p>

<cognitive-psychology><cognitive-neuroscience>
What is meant by this theory that there are only 3 possible kinds of cognitive loads?
Celeritas
# What is meant by this theory that there are only 3 possible kinds of cognitive loads?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-02)

I don't understand this theory that states there are only three kinds of mental loads:

> The theory is that there are basically three different kinds of
> demands or loads that you can make on a person: Cognitive (thinking
> and remembering), Visual, and Motor.

[Source](https://www.blog.theteamw.com/2011/02/17/100-things-you-should-know-about-people-60-cognitive-loads-are-the-most-expensive/#comments), Posted on February 17, 2011 by Susan Weinschenk.

What about things like listening to someone speak? Or if someone's learning to play a musical instrument and is trying to hit the right note. Is this only in the context of interaction design.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, cognitive-neuroscience


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-02. Score: 3

The source you mention is a web blog about computer and office work. The blog doesn't describe a '[theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory)', not even a [hypothesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothesis) for that matter, it just outlines a starting point for a popular scientific blog on cognitive load in everyday life. It all depends on the task what adds mental load. Every input, let it be acoustic (e.g. speech), visual (e.g. computer tasks), touch or internal mental processes can all increase cognitive load.

I can recommend reading the [wiki page on cognitive load](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_load) as a starting point to better understand different aspects of **[cognitive load theory](http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/cognitive-load.html)**.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-15. Score: 2

I'm a current PhD student in Cognitive Load Theory, and I have to agree with @Christiaan above, the article you refer to is just a blog, and doesn't refer to any theory specifically.

IF the article is referring to Cognitive Load Theory itself, then there are 3 described types of cognitive load.

1. Intrinsic Load - The load for how innately difficult the task is to the learner (this varies based on previous expertise).
2. Extraneous Load - The load for how effective the instructional strategy or materials being presented are (bad instructions from a teacher or poorlly designed worksheets increase this type of load).
3. Germane Load - the load devoted to actual learning, that is information processing, integration and schema acquisition.

Your article mentions different sensory inputs, and while there are aspects of CLT that relate to different types of sensory input, they aren't ever referred to as 'kinds of cognitive load'. If anything these may be referred to as 'working memory channels' based on Baddeley & Hitch's model of working memory.


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