What occurs in working memory?

Working memory is a cognitive system responsible for temporarily holding and processing information needed for complex tasks such as learning, reasoning, and comprehension. It allows individuals to store and manipulate information in real-time, making it crucial for activities like problem-solving and decision-making.

In this context, immediate processing of information refers to the ability to actively work with information that is currently being attended to, whether it involves solving a math problem, following a conversation, or any other task that requires manipulating data on the spot. This dynamic process differentiates working memory from long-term memory, which is involved in storing information over longer periods, and sensory memory, which captures sensory data briefly before it is either processed further or lost.

Contrary to the options that reference long-term storage, sensory encoding, or the retrieval of long-term memories, working memory specifically focuses on the transient, active manipulation and processing of information as it occurs in the moment. Therefore, it is integral to a wide range of cognitive activities and learning processes.