The Importance of Working Memory in Daily Life

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Working memory is a crucial function that enables individuals to sequence actions over a short period of time and then intentionally discard that sequence. It is involved in almost every cognitive and motor activity from the moment a person wakes up until they go to sleep. Tasks such as tying shoes, making coffee, or planning a jogging route heavily rely on working memory. Individuals with diminished or no working memory struggle to sequence activities and require significant assistance in their daily lives. Working memory is closely tied to attention and plays a vital role in allowing individuals to navigate their immediate environment in an adaptive and functional manner.

In this episode, I discuss working memory, which is critical for learning and productivity, strategy setting, goal seeking, and navigating new environments. I explain the key role of dopamine and the biological mechanisms underlying working memory and how working memory differs from both short- and long-term memory.

I also describe science-supported tools to enhance working memory and attention—including zero- or low-cost behavioral, supplemental and pharmacologic approaches. I include how to assess your working memory and how to use memory tasks to determine your baseline dopamine levels in certain brain circuits.

This episode provides listeners with highly actionable tools to assess and improve their attention to specific tasks and task-switching capacity and to enhance their overall productivity.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.