Backward digit span tasks primarily engage which WM component beyond the simple forward span?

• A. Central Executive
• B. Phonological Loop
• C. Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
• D. Episodic Buffer

Answer: (A)

Backward digit span goes beyond simply holding digits in memory; you must actively transform the sequence (reorder it) as you recall it. That kind of manipulation is handled by the central executive, which provides attention, monitoring, and updating of working memory contents. The phonological loop still stores the digits, so it supports the task, but it doesn’t supply the control needed to reorder. The visuo-spatial sketchpad isn’t the primary helper here for a verbal task, unless you rely on a visual strategy. The episodic buffer adds integrated representations across domains, but the essential extra demand in backward span is the executive control over updating and manipulation.