How is working memory organized?
Baddeley and Hitch split it into parts. The phonological loop rehearses sounds (repeating a phone number); the visuospatial sketchpad handles images and locations; the central executive directs and switches attention. In 2000 Baddeley added the episodic buffer, which binds information and links it to long-term memory. Short-term memory is storage; working memory is storage plus processing.
Why does capacity matter for learning?
Miller famously said 7±2 items, but Cowan argued the real limit is about four chunks. Overload it and comprehension collapses, which is why cognitive load theory recommends breaking material into pieces and cutting distractions. Chunking and offloading to notes help. Meta-analyses find brain-training games mostly improve the trained task, with weak transfer to school performance.
FAQ
- Is multitasking bad for working memory?
- Constant switching taxes the central executive, raising errors and fatigue.
- Is it linked to ADHD?
- Working memory difficulties are common in ADHD. If symptoms concern you, talk to a professional.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-25
References
- Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch, G. (1974). Working memory. In G. H. Bower (Ed.), The Psychology of Learning and Motivation (Vol. 8, pp. 47–89). Academic Press.
- Cowan, N. (2001). The magical number 4 in short-term memory. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24(1), 87–114.
- Melby-Lervåg, M., & Hulme, C. (2013). Is working memory training effective? A meta-analytic review. Developmental Psychology, 49(2), 270–291.