The article by Mark D'Esposito and Bradley R. Postle provides an overview of the cognitive neuroscience of working memory, a process essential for coordinating multiple goals and guiding behavior with information not immediately available. The authors trace the historical development of the concept of working memory, from its early recognition in the 1960s to the current understanding of its neural mechanisms. They highlight the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in controlling behavior by biasing the salience of mnemonic representations and adjudicating among competing, context-dependent rules. The article discusses two main types of models: the *multicomponent* model, which posits multiple buffers for different types of information, and *state-based* models, which suggest that attentional allocation to internal representations determines the state of information in working memory. The authors also review evidence from functional MRI (fMRI) and other neuroimaging techniques that support these models, including the use of multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to decode information from working memory tasks. They explore the neural mechanisms underlying working memory, such as persistent neural activity in the PFC and the role of synaptic mechanisms. The article concludes by discussing the hierarchical organization of the PFC and its implications for the mediation of goal-directed behavior.The article by Mark D'Esposito and Bradley R. Postle provides an overview of the cognitive neuroscience of working memory, a process essential for coordinating multiple goals and guiding behavior with information not immediately available. The authors trace the historical development of the concept of working memory, from its early recognition in the 1960s to the current understanding of its neural mechanisms. They highlight the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in controlling behavior by biasing the salience of mnemonic representations and adjudicating among competing, context-dependent rules. The article discusses two main types of models: the *multicomponent* model, which posits multiple buffers for different types of information, and *state-based* models, which suggest that attentional allocation to internal representations determines the state of information in working memory. The authors also review evidence from functional MRI (fMRI) and other neuroimaging techniques that support these models, including the use of multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to decode information from working memory tasks. They explore the neural mechanisms underlying working memory, such as persistent neural activity in the PFC and the role of synaptic mechanisms. The article concludes by discussing the hierarchical organization of the PFC and its implications for the mediation of goal-directed behavior.