Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

The neural correlates of the verbal component of working memory

Abstract

BY repeating words 'in our head', verbal material (such as telephone numbers) can be kept in working memory1 almost indefinitely. This 'articulatory loop' includes a subvocal rehearsal system2–6 and a phonological store3,6–10. Little is known about neural correlates of this model of verbal short-term memory. We therefore measured regional cerebral blood flow, an index of neuronal activity, in volunteers performing a task engaging both components of the articulatory loop (short-term memory for letters) 5–10 and a task which engages only the subvocal rehearsal system (rhyming judgement for letters) 4,11. Stimuli were presented visually and the subjects did not speak. We report here that comparisons of distribution of cerebral blood flow in these conditions localized the phonological store to the left supramarginal gyrus whereas the subvocal rehearsal system was associated with Broca's area. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of the normal anatomy of the components of the 'articulatory loop'.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baddeley, A. D. Science 255, 556–559 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Baddeley, A. D., Thomson, N. & Buchanan, M. J. Verb. Learn. Verb. Behav. 14, 575–589 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Baddeley, A. D., Lewis, V. & Vallar, G. Q. J. exp. Psychol. 36, 233–252 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Burani, C., Vallar, G. & Bottini, G. Eur. J. cogn. Psychol. 3, 379–398 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Vallar, G. & Cappa, S. F. Cogn. Neuropsychol. 4, 55–78 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Salamé, P. & Baddeley, A. D. J. Verb. Learn. Verb. Behav. 21, 150–164 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Warrington, E. K. & Shallice, T. Brain 92, 885–896 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Shallice, T. & Butterworth, B. Neuropsychologia 15, 729–735 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Vallar, G. & Baddeley, A. D. J. Verb. Learn. Verb. Behav. 23, 151–161 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Shallice, T. & Vallar, G. in Neuropsychological Impairments of Short-term Memory (eds Shallice, T. & Vallar, G.) 11–53 (Cambridge Univ. Press, New York. 1990).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Vallar, G. & Baddeley, A. D. Cogn. Neuropsychol. 1, 121–141 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Besner, D. Q. J. exp. Psychol. 39A, 467–478 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Friston, K. J. et al. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 10, 458–466 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Friston, K. J., Frith, C. D., Liddle, P. F. & Frackowiak, R. S. J. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 11, 690–699 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wise, R. et al. Brain 114, 1803–1817 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Damasio, A. R. & Damasio, H. Neurology, 33, 1573–1583 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zatorre, R. J., Evans, A. C., Meyer, E. & Gjedde, A. Science 256, 846–849 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Démonet, J. F. et al. Brain 115, 1753–1768 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Baddeley, A. & Wilson, B. J. Mem. Lang. 24, 490–502 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Talairach, J. & Tournoux, P. A Co-planar Stereotactic Atlas of the Human Brain (Thieme, Stuttgart, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Townsend, D. W. et al. IEEE Trans. med. Imaging 10, 505–512 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Spinks, T. J. et al. Phys. med. Biol. 37, 1637–1655 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Fox, P. T. & Mintun, M. A. J. nucl. Med. 30, 141–149 (1989).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Friston, K. J. et al. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 9, 690–695 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paulesu, E., Frith, C. & Frackowiak, R. The neural correlates of the verbal component of working memory. Nature 362, 342–345 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/362342a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/362342a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing