Multiple concurrent thoughts: The meaning and developmental neuropsychology of working memory.
Working memory can be described as the small amount of information held in a readily accessible state, available to help in the completion of cognitive tasks. There has been considerable confusion among researchers regarding the definition of working memory, which can be attributed to the difficulty of reconciling descriptions from working memory researchers with very different theoretical orientations. Here I review theories of working memory and some of the main issues in the field, discuss current behavioral and neuropsychological research that can address these issues, and consider the implications for cognitive development.
Cowan
Nelson
N
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA. CowanN@missouri.edu
D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009484:Neuropsychology / Q000266:history