If someone struggles to recall the order of colored squares on a grid, which WM component is most likely implicated?

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

Answer: (A)

This item tests how we store and manipulate visual-spatial information in working memory. Recalling the order of colored squares on a grid requires keeping track of spatial positions and the sequence in which they appear, which relies on a visual-spatial representation rather than sounds or words.

That role is handled by the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad, the part of working memory that temporarily holds and manipulates visual images and spatial layouts. It allows you to picture the grid, see where each square is located, and keep track of the order as you reproduce the sequence.

The Phonological Loop would be involved if you were using spoken or written rehearsal to remember the sequence, which isn’t the key demand of this task. The Central Executive governs attention and coordinates these processes but isn’t the storage facility for the spatial sequence itself. The Episodic Buffer integrates information across modalities into a cohesive episode, but for a straightforward grid-color sequence, the essential storage and ordering happen in the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad.