Working memory (WM) refers to a set of processes that makes task-relevant information accessible to higher-level cognitive processes. Recent work suggests WM is supported by a variety of information gating, updating, and removal processes, which ensure only task-relevant information occupies WM. Current neurocomputational theory suggests WM gating is accomplished via ‘go/no-go’ signalling in basal ganglia-thalamus-prefrontal cortex pathways, but is less clear about other subprocesses and brain structures known to play a role in WM. We review recent efforts to identify the neural basis of WM subprocesses using the recently developed reference-back task as a benchmark measure of WM subprocesses. Targets for future research using the methods of model-based cognitive neuroscience and novel extensions to the reference-back task are suggested.

工作记忆（WM）是指使过程相关信息可供高层认知过程访问的一组过程。最近的工作表明，WM受各种信息门控，更新和删除过程的支持，这些过程可确保仅与任务相关的信息占据WM。当前的神经计算理论表明，WM门控是通过基底神经节-丘脑-前额叶皮层通路中的“ go / no-go”信号完成的，但尚不清楚在WM中起作用的其他子过程和大脑结构。我们回顾了最近的工作，使用最近开发的引用返回任务作为WM子过程的基准度量，以识别WM子过程的神经基础。提出了使用基于模型的认知神经科学方法以及对参考支持任务的新扩展建议的未来研究目标。