工作記憶（英語：Working memory）是一種記憶容量有限的認知系統，被用以暫時保存資訊。[1]工作記憶對於推理以及指導決策和行為有重要影響。[2][3] 工作記憶通常與短期記憶同義使用，但一些理論家認為兩種形式的記憶是不同的，假設工作記憶允許對存儲的資訊進行操作，而短期記憶僅指資訊的短期存儲。[2][4]工作記憶是認知心理學、神經心理學和神經科學的核心理論概念。
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工作記憶是記憶的一部分。它會在短時間內存儲記錄的資訊，以便將此資訊包含在長期記憶中或與之進行比較。這個術語和理解是由Alan Baddeley於1968年提出的。
工作記憶由三個子結構組成：語音循環、視覺空間寫生板和中央執行系統[5]（參見巴德利工作記憶模型）。
然而，記憶容量被限制在大約七個資訊單位/分塊（參見米勒數）。
Miyake, A.; Shah, P. (編). Models of working memory. Mechanisms of active maintenance and executive control. Cambridge University Press. 1999. ISBN 0-521-58325-X. Diamond A. Executive functions. Annu Rev Psychol. 2013, 64: 135–168. PMC 4084861 
. PMID 23020641. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750. WM (holding information in mind and manipulating it) is distinct from short-term memory (just holding information in mind). They cluster onto separate factors in factor analyses of children, adolescents, and adults (Alloway et al. 2004, Gathercole et al. 2004). They are linked to different neural subsystems. WM relies more on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, whereas maintaining information in mind but not manipulating it [as long as the number of items is not huge (suprathreshold)] does not need involvement of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (D』Esposito et al. 1999, Eldreth et al. 2006, Smith & Jonides 1999). Imaging studies show frontal activation only in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex for memory maintenance that is not suprathreshold.
WM and short-term memory also show different developmental progressions; the latter develops earlier and faster.
Malenka RC, Nestler EJ, Hyman SE. Chapter 13: Higher Cognitive Function and Behavioral Control. Sydor A, Brown RY (編). Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience 2nd. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. 2009: 313–321. ISBN 978-0-07-148127-4. · Executive function, the cognitive control of behavior, depends on the prefrontal cortex, which is highly developed in higher primates and especially humans.
· Working memory is a short-term, capacity-limited cognitive buffer that stores information and permits its manipulation to guide decision-making and behavior. ...
working memory may be impaired in ADHD, the most common childhood psychiatric disorder seen in clinical settings ... ADHD can be conceptualized as a disorder of executive function; specifically, ADHD is characterized by reduced ability to exert and maintain cognitive control of behavior. Compared with healthy individuals, those with ADHD have diminished ability to suppress inappropriate prepotent responses to stimuli (impaired response inhibition) and diminished ability to inhibit responses to irrelevant stimuli (impaired interference suppression). ... Early results with structural MRI show thinning of the cerebral cortex in ADHD subjects compared with age-matched controls in prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex, areas involved in working memory and attention.
