Retiring the central executive

The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP
Robert H Logie

Abstract

Reasoning, problem solving, comprehension, learning and retrieval, inhibition, switching, updating, or multitasking are often referred to as higher cognition, thought to require control processes or the use of a central executive. However, the concept of an executive controller begs the question of what is controlling the controller and so on, leading to an infinite hierarchy of executives or "homunculi". In what is now a QJEP citation classic, Baddeley [Baddeley, A. D. (1996). Exploring the central executive. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 49A, 5-28] referred to the concept of a central executive in cognition as a "conceptual ragbag" that acted as a placeholder umbrella term for aspects of cognition that are complex, were poorly understood at the time, and most likely involve several different cognitive functions working in concert. He suggested that with systematic empirical research, advances in understanding might progress sufficiently to allow the executive concept to be "sacked". This article offers an overview of the 1996 article and of some subsequent systematic research and argues that after two decades of research, there is sufficient advance in understanding to suggest that executive control might aris...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 1, 2016·Memory & Cognition·Jason M Doherty, Robert H Logie
Jul 20, 2016·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Christopher Jarrold
Jul 19, 2016·Memory·Gianna CocchiniAndrea R Halpern
Jul 7, 2018·Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools·Eryn J AdamsNelson Cowan
Feb 20, 2019·Experimental Psychology·Ed D J BerryRobert H Logie
May 10, 2019·PloS One·Otmar BockClaudia Voelcker-Rehage
Oct 5, 2018·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Andria Shimi, Robert H Logie
Nov 16, 2019·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·Megan S BarkerGail A Robinson
Jun 9, 2020·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Nelson CowanRobert H Logie
Feb 9, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Colin J HamiltonClelia Rossi-Arnaud
May 1, 2018·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Candice C MoreyNicolas Chevalier
Oct 20, 2020·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Agnieszka J JaroslawskaRobert H Logie
Feb 15, 2021·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Nicolas ZinkSebastian Markett

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