working memory

psychology

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July 19, 2026

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Working memory is a psychological concept that involves temporarily storing, focusing on, and manipulating information for a short period. It's like a mental workspace rather than just a storage device. This differs from short-term memory, which primarily focuses on the limited number of items one can hold in mind at once.1

Working memory is crucial for cognitive tasks like reasoning, planning, and problem-solving. It consists of components like storage buffers for verbal and visuospatial information, coordinated by a "central executive" that manages information flow. The capacity of working memory can predict abilities in areas such as reading comprehension and problem-solving, and it is strongly related to general intelligence. This capacity can decline with age.12

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memory
Working memory
Some aspects of memory can be likened to a system for storing and efficiently retrieving information. One system in particular—identified as “working memory” by the British psychologist Alan Baddeley—is essential for problem solving or the execution of complex cognitive tasks. It is characterized…
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Some aspects of memory can be likened to a system for storing and efficiently retrieving information. One system in particular—identified as “working memory” by the British psychologist Alan Baddeley—is essential for problem solving or the execution of complex cognitive tasks. It is characterized…
Read More