The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, it is often divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic load is inherent to the difficulty of the material itself, while extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented. Germane load, on the other hand, is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material, which can enhance learning. Research suggests that instructional design should aim to reduce extraneous load, allowing more cognitive resources for germane load, especially when dealing with complex subjects. However, overly simplifying content may lower intrinsic load to a level that undermines deep learning, indicating a delicate balance in curriculum design.