How does the Central Executive support dual-task performance?

• A. By storing information in long-term memory.
• B. By inhibiting one subsystem completely at a time.
• C. By allocating cognitive resources, switching attention, and coordinating between phonological and visuospatial subsystems.
• D. By performing all tasks without interference.

Answer: (C)

The central executive is the attentional control of working memory. In dual-task situations, it allocates cognitive resources, switches attention between tasks, and coordinates processing between the phonological loop (verbal information) and the visuospatial sketchpad (visual-spatial information). This coordination helps manage interference and allows both tasks to proceed by time-sharing attention and distributing resources where needed. It’s not about storing information in long-term memory, nor does it shut down a subsystem completely; nor can it eliminate interference entirely, especially when tasks overtax the same subsystem.