Without doubt, working memory is one of the “hottest” topics in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Since the publication of Baddeley's (1986) landmark book, several monographs and edited volumes that explore various aspects of working memory have been published (e.g., Gathertole, 1996; Gathercole & Baddeley, 1993; Logie, 1995; Logie & Gilhooly, 1998; Richardson, Engle, Hasher, Logie, Stoltzfus, & Zacks, 1996; Vallar & Shallice, 1990). Also, at least four journals have published a special issue on this topic (International Journal of Behavioral Development, 1994; see also de Ribaupierre & Hitch, 1994; Memory & Cognition, 1993; Neuropsychology, 1994; Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1996), and another is also planning to publish a special section in 2000 (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General). In July of 1994 – 20 years after the publication of the seminal article on working memory that defined the field (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974) – an international conference specifically dedicated to working memory was held in Cambridge, UK, bringing together more than 200 researchers from across the world.

Working memory is also one of the most intensively studied areas in a new emerging field of study, cognitive neuroscience. Reflecting the dramatic surge of interest in neuroimaging studies of working memory, two general science magazines (Science and Scientific American) recently published articles that report the state of the art of research inquiry into the neural basis of working memory (Beardsley, 1997; Wickelgren, 1997).