What Is It?
Brain & Neuroscience
It Controls…
Real-Life Use
When It Struggles
100

This working-memory component controls attention rather than storing information.

What is the central executive?

100

This lobe of the brain is most strongly linked to the central executive.

What is the frontal lobe?

100

This subsystem handles verbal and auditory information.

What is the phonological loop?

100

Listening to a lecture while ignoring background noise uses this central-executive skill.

What is selective attention?

100

People with this disorder often have difficulty with central-executive control.

 What is ADHD?

200

Baddeley described working memory as a “workbench” because it is this type of system.

What is a flexible, active system for many tasks?

200

Neuroscience research often connects the central executive to this network.

What is the executive attention network?

200

This subsystem is responsible for visual images and spatial layouts.

What is the visuospatial sketchpad?

200

Switching between taking notes and listening requires this executive function.

What is task switching?

200

Research shows individuals with this condition often show reduced working-memory performance.

 What is major depression

300

This feature makes the central executive different from the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad.

➡️ Answer: What is attention control?

300

Damage to this brain area often leads to poor planning and task switching.

What is the prefrontal cortex?

300

This component integrates information and links working memory to long-term memory.

What is the episodic buffer?

300

Deciding what information is important enough to remember relies on this process.

 What is inhibitory control?

300

Difficulty ignoring irrelevant information is a sign of weakness in this component.

What is the central executive?

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