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Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning pp 3474–3476Cite as

Working Memory and Information Processing

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Synonyms

Active memory; Immediate memory; Primary memory; Short-term memory

Definition

Working memory is an adaptive system for maintaining task-relevant information in an active and accessible state for the purpose of completing complex cognitive and behavioral tasks – hence the term working memory. Despite continued debate over the specific nature of working memory, there are several basic assumptions that all researchers ascribe to its concept: (1) that it is limited in capacity, (2) it is structurally and/or functionally distinct from long-term memory, and (3) specific control processes (such as rehearsal and retrieval) act on the information held within working memory to keep it active for ongoing use.

Theoretical Background

The concept of working memory was borne out of growing dissatisfaction with the earlier concept of short-term memory or short-term store, that is, a system used for the sole purpose of storing some amount of information for a limited time. Researchers felt...

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References

  • Atkinson, R. C., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. In K. W. Spence (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 2, pp. 89–195). New York: Academic.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30605, USA

    Dr. Gregory Spillers, Dr. Gene Brewer & Dr. Nash Unsworth

Authors
  1. Dr. Gregory Spillers
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  2. Dr. Gene Brewer
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  3. Dr. Nash Unsworth
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregory Spillers .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Education, University of Freiburg, 79085, Freiburg, Germany

    Norbert M. Seel

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Spillers, G., Brewer, G., Unsworth, N. (2012). Working Memory and Information Processing. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_787

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_787

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1427-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1428-6

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

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