Which subcomponent of the Phonological Loop holds spoken words briefly?

• A. Inner Scribe
• B. Articulatory Rehearsal Process
• C. Phonological Store
• D. Visual Cache

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how speech-based information is stored briefly in the Phonological Loop. The Phonological Loop has two parts: the Phonological Store, which holds spoken words in an acoustic form for a short time (about 1–2 seconds), and the Articulatory Rehearsal Process, which refreshes that information through subvocal repetition. The item being asked—holding spoken words briefly—describes the Phonological Store, not the rehearsal mechanism. The other options belong to different components: the Inner Scribe and Visual Cache are part of the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad, handling visual and spatial information, while the Articulatory Rehearsal Process is the refreshing mechanism, not the storage site.