arbejdshukommelsesopgaver

Arbejdshukommelse, or working memory, is a cognitive system that temporarily holds and actively processes information needed for complex tasks such as reasoning, language comprehension, and learning. It enables the brain to manipulate current information rather than simply storing it, and its contents are fleeting, easily displaced by new input.

A widely influential framework is the Baddeley–Hitch model, later expanded to include an episodic buffer. It posits several interacting components: a central executive that directs attention and coordinates processing; a phonological loop that handles verbal and auditory information; a visuospatial sketchpad that manages visual and spatial data; and an episodic buffer that integrates information across domains and links to long-term memory.

Working memory has a limited capacity, commonly described in terms of chunks rather than individual items. On average, many adults can hold about three to five chunks at once, with variations depending on task and strategy. Common assessment tasks include digit span, operation span, and visuospatial tasks that probe different components of the system.

Development and aging influence arbejdshukommelse. Capacity typically increases during childhood and tends to decline with age. It is also affected by neurological or developmental conditions, such as ADHD or schizophrenia, and by injuries that impair the prefrontal and parietal regions associated with executive control.

Training and practical implications remain debated. Some programs yield improvements on trained tasks or closely related measures, but evidence for broad, far-transfer gains to general intelligence or everyday functioning is limited. Nevertheless, working memory remains a central construct in education, cognitive psychology, and clinical assessment due to its role in attention, learning, and problem-solving.