Glossary
Phonological Loop
What is the phonological loop?
The phonological loop, in Baddeley and Hitch’s model, is a proposed component of working memory, which is the cognitive system that allows us to temporarily hold and manipulate information in our minds. The model includes a temporary store for speech sounds and a rehearsal process, sometimes described as an “inner voice,” that helps maintain them. Its main role is short-term retention, rather than every kind of verbal manipulation. Think of silently repeating a phone number until you can enter it. The inner-voice description makes that sort of short-term rehearsal easy to picture. The model is also relevant to following verbal directions and learning new vocabulary.
Iconic memory concerns the brief retention of visual information rather than speech-based rehearsal.