Cognitive Offloading: An Overview
Cognitive offloading refers to the use of physical actions or external tools to reduce the cognitive demands of a task.
This strategy allows individuals to manage limited working memory and attentional resources by shifting part of the mental workload onto the environment (Risko & Gilbert, 2016). Common examples include writing reminders, using GPS navigation, or rotating a map rather than mentally reorienting it.
Risko and Gilbert (2016) define cognitive offloading as “the use of physical action to alter the information processing requirements of a task so as to reduce cognitive demand” (p. 676). Their review highlights how offloading is not merely a convenience but a fundamental aspect of human cognition, shaped by metacognitive evaluations of task difficulty and memory capacity.
Recent research has explored both the benefits and trade-offs of offloading. While it can enhance immediate task performance and free up cognitive resources (Runge et al., 2021), it may also impair long-term memory retention if individuals become over-reliant on external aids (Storm & Stone, 2015). This duality underscores the importance of understanding when and how offloading supports or hinders cognitive functioning.
Cite this post
Sutton, G.W. (2025, July 5). Cognitive offloading: An overview. Psychology concepts and theories. https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2025/07/cognitive-offloading-overview.html
Post Author
Geoffrey W. Sutton, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Evangel University, holds a master’s degree in counseling and a PhD in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His postdoctoral work encompassed education and supervision in forensic and neuropsychology. As a licensed psychologist, he conducted clinical and neuropsychological evaluations and provided psychotherapy for patients in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and private offices. During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Sutton taught courses on psychotherapy, assessment, and research. He has authored over one hundred publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed psychology journals. His website is https://suttong.com
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References
Risko, E. F., & Gilbert, S. J. (2016). Cognitive offloading. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 20(9), 676–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2016.07.002
Runge, J. M., Ferreira, C. S., & Kray, J. (2021). Consequences of cognitive offloading: Boosting performance but reducing memory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(10), 1689–1707. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218211008060
Storm, B. C., & Stone, S. M. (2015). Saving-enhanced memory: The benefits of saving on the learning and remembering of new information. Psychological Science, 26(2), 182–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614559285
Sutton, G.W. (2025, July 5). Cognitive offloading: An overview. Psychology concepts and theories. https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2025/07/cognitive-offloading-overview.html
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