What component of working memory acts as a bridge between long-term memory and the central executive?

The component of working memory that serves as a bridge between long-term memory and the central executive is the episodic buffer. The episodic buffer is responsible for integrating information from different sources and is particularly important for connecting information stored in long-term memory with the ongoing processing managed by the central executive. This allows it to compile and manipulate both visual and auditory information, as well as link it to the broader context or experiences stored in long-term memory.

Being distinct from the other components—like the phonological loop, which deals specifically with auditory information, and the visuospatial sketchpad, which handles visual and spatial information—the episodic buffer plays a unique role in maintaining a coherent and accessible narrative within working memory by coordinating with both the central executive and long-term memory.