Working memory is a newer model of short-term memory developed by Alan Baddeley and Graham Hitch. It emphasises active, conscious processing rather than passive storage, and it consists of multiple components that temporarily hold and manipulate information.

The model includes the central executive, which directs attention and coordinates the system; the phonological loop, which holds verbal and auditory information; the visuospatial sketchpad, which holds visual and spatial information; and the episodic buffer, which integrates information across modalities and links it to long-term memory. Working memory is central to reasoning, comprehension, and problem-solving.

Components

• Central executive: attention and control
• Phonological loop: verbal and auditory
• Visuospatial sketchpad: visual and spatial
• Episodic buffer: integration across systems