Working memory in reading

Working memory refers to the temporary storage of information while processing incoming data and retrieving relevant information from long-term storage. Working memory plays an important role in complex cognition such as language comprehension, learning, and reasoning (Baddeley, 1986; Just & Carpenter, 1992). In Baddeleys's model, working memory is composed of a central executive system and two subsidiary systems, that is, the phonological loop and the visuo-spatial sketchpad (Baddeley, 1986). The central executive is assumed to serve as an attention controller that allocates and coordinates attentional resources for cognitive tasks (Baddeley, 1996; Engle, Kane & Tuholski, 1999). The phonological loop is thought to store acoustic and phonological properties of words, letters, and numbers together with the subvocal rehearsal system. The visuo-spatial sketchpad is thought to support temporary memory of visual appearance and layout a scene together with movement through the scene. Recently, a new subsystem, the episodic buffer, has been added and assigned a role of retrieving data from a knowledge base of skills and information acquired during past experience (Baddeley, 2000).

Working memory plays an important role in reading. In reading, incoming information must be decoded perceptually, as it involves retrieving information about grapheme–phoneme conversion rules, word meanings and syntax; then the information must be reorganized and integrated with a contextual interpretation (Carpenter & Just, 1989; Daneman & Carpenter, 1980; Kintsch & Van Dijk, 1978).