ABSTRACT
Working memory is often considered the workplace of the mind. It refers to a temporary memory buffer—lasting for a few seconds at most—which is able to passively store and actively manipulate information (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974; Kane, Bleckley, Conway, & Engle, 2001; Miyake & Shah, 1999). Working memory can be (and has been) studied under quite a number of aspects, such as its structure, the processes that ensure its smooth operation, and its functionality in the broader context of the cognitive system. It is pretty safe to say that there are about as many takes on these aspects as there are researchers (Miyake & Shah, 1999, have an excellent overview of the main theories), but some general principles do stand out.
