The central executive

Cards (2)

  • What does the central executive do?
    It determines how resources (slave systems) are allocated, it has a limited capacity so when data arrives from the senses it cant be held for long. They also select strategies but can only do a limited number of things at the same time. It collects information from a number of different sources such as the inner ear and eyes and information held in a large data base (LTM).
  • How does Baddeley (1986) describe the central executive?
    Baddeley uses the metaphor of a company boss to describe the way in which the central executive operates. The company boss makes decisions about which issues deserve attention and which should be ignored, it involves reasoning and decision making.