What is the role of the phonological loop in working memory?

• A. Visual processing only.
• B. Long-term memory encoding.
• C. Verbal/auditory information storage and rehearsal.
• D. Motor control.

Answer: (C)

The phonological loop handles verbal and auditory information in working memory. It temporarily stores sounds and keeps them active through subvocal rehearsal, so you can hold onto spoken words or numbers long enough to use them. It has two parts: a phonological store that holds an acoustic trace, and an articulatory rehearsal process that refreshes that trace by silently repeating it. This explains why you can remember a phone number or a sentence you’re about to say, and why longer words or similar-sounding items are harder to recall. It’s separate from visual processing (handled by the visuo-spatial sketchpad) and isn’t directly responsible for long-term memory encoding or motor control.