A resource model of the neural basis of executive working memory

Working memory (WM) refers to the temporary storage and processing of goal-relevant information. WM is thought to include domain-specific short-term memory stores and executive processes, such as coordination, that operate on the contents of WM. To examine the neural substrates of coordination, we acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging data while subjects performed a WM span test designed specifically to measure executive WM. Subjects performed two tasks (sentence reading and short-term memory for five words) either separately or concurrently. Dual-task performance activated frontal-lobe areas to a greater extent than performance of either task in isolation, but no new area was activated beyond those activated by either component task. These findings support a resource theory of WM executive processes in the frontal lobes.