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 m emory stores and executive processes, such as coordination, that operate on the contents of WM. To examine the neural substrates of coordination, we a cquired functional magnetic resonance imaging data while subjects performed a WM span test designed specifically to measure executive WM. Subjects per formed two tasks (sentence reading and shortterm memory for five words) eit her separately or concurrently, Dual-task performance activated frontal-lob e areas to a greater extent than performance of either task in isolation, b ut no new area was activated beyond those activated by either component tas k, These findings support a resource theory of WM executive processes in th e frontal lobes.