Definition
A cognitive system responsible for storing and manipulating information, for a short time period, for the completion of an action, such as a mathematical problem (mental action) or following the correct process on a recipe you just heard (physical action).
Introduction
Working memory, an evidence supported theoretical construct, is defined as the cognitive system responsible for storing and manipulating information, for a short time period, for the completion of an action. For example, a child’s good working memory system would hold a mathematical problem, read by the teacher in the classroom, process the solution, and come up with the correct answer (mental action). In another example, somebody gives you a phone number that you have to remember until you reach your calling device and dial that number. Psychologists devised numerous psychometric tests to assess working memory. “Digit Span” is a working memory...
References
Baddeley, A. (2003). Working memory: Looking back and looking forward. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 4, 829–839. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1201.
Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch, G. (1974). Working memory. In H. B. Gordon (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (pp. 47–89). New York: Academic/Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-7421(08)60452-1.
Cowan, C. (2010). The magical mystery four: How is working memory capacity limited, and why? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 51–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721409359277.
Eriksson, J., Vogel, E. K., Lansner, A., Bergström, F., & Nyberg, L. (2016). Neurocognitive architecture of working memory. Neuron, 88, 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2015.09.020.
Kobel, M., Bechtel, N., Weber, P., Specht, K., Klarhöfer, M., Scheffler, K., Opwis, K., & Penner, I. K. (2009). Effects of methylphenidate on working memory functioning in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 13, 513–526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpn.2008.10.008.
Na, D. G., Ryu, J. W., Byun, H. S., Choi, D. S., Lee, E. J. R. T., Chung, W. I., Cho, J. M., & Han, B. K. (2000). Functional MR imaging of working memory in the human brain. Korean Journal of Radiology, 1, 19–24.
Sowerby, P., Seal, P., & Tripp, G. (2010). Working memory deficits in ADHD: The contribution of age, learning/language difficulties, and task parameters. Journal of Attention Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054710370674.
Wechsler, D. A. (2008). Wechsler adult intelligence scale (4th ed.). San Antonio: Psychological Corporation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Constantinou, M. (2019). Working Memory. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1104-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1104-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences