Skill and Working Memory

This chapter focuses on the important role of retrieval structures as working memory states, which contains structures for controlling the flow of processing within the current task and provides relatively fast and direct access to knowledge structures relevant to the currenttask and context.

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the important role of retrieval structures as working memory states. The working memory has at least the following components: (1) short-term memory, which provides direct and virtually immediate access to very recent or attended knowledge states; (2) intermediate-term memory, the task-specific retrieval structure in long-term memory, which provides direct and relatively fast access to knowledge states; and (3) context, which contains structures for controlling the flow of processing within the current task and provides relatively fast and direct access to knowledge structures relevant to the current task and context. The auditory and visual–spatial buffers are important components of working memory.