What happens in your brain when you hold a phone number in your head?

Updated

Your prefrontal cortex actively maintains the digits, Broca's area subvocally rehearses them, and the parietal cortex stores the phonological sequence.

Prefrontal Cortex, Broca's Area, Parietal Cortex lit up on the Brain Atlas 3D brain: what happens in your brain when you hold a phone number in your head
Figure. The brain regions that light up when you hold a phone number in your head, in order: Prefrontal Cortex (hold online), then Broca's Area (inner rehearsal), then Parietal Cortex (phonological store).

Watch it light up on the 3D brain

Brain regions that light up

OrderRegionWhat it does here
1Prefrontal CortexPrefrontal cortex keeps the digits active in your mind.
2Broca's AreaBroca's area silently repeats the digits to refresh them.
3Parietal CortexParietal cortex holds the sound sequence of the digits.

1. Prefrontal Cortex: hold online

Step 1 of what happens in your brain when you hold a phone number in your head: Prefrontal Cortex lit on the Brain Atlas 3D brain
Figure 1. Prefrontal Cortex, hold online: Prefrontal cortex keeps the digits active in your mind.

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex maintains the number by sustained firing of neurons, representing the temporary information. This region is essential for working memory and executive control.

2. Broca's Area: inner rehearsal

Step 2 of what happens in your brain when you hold a phone number in your head: Prefrontal Cortex, Broca's Area lit on the Brain Atlas 3D brain
Figure 2. Broca's Area, inner rehearsal: Broca's area silently repeats the digits to refresh them.

Broca's area, part of the left inferior frontal gyrus, supports the articulatory rehearsal process. This subvocal repetition ensures the digits remain in working memory for as long as needed.

3. Parietal Cortex: phonological store

Step 3 of what happens in your brain when you hold a phone number in your head: Prefrontal Cortex, Broca's Area, Parietal Cortex lit on the Brain Atlas 3D brain
Figure 3. Parietal Cortex, phonological store: Parietal cortex holds the sound sequence of the digits.

The left supramarginal gyrus in the parietal cortex acts as the phonological store, briefly retaining the auditory-phonological code of the number. This store works with the rehearsal loop to keep the digits active.

Good to know

  • Working memory capacity is typically around 7±2 items for digits.
  • The phonological loop is a component of Baddeley's working memory model.
  • Damage to left inferior frontal gyrus can impair digit span.

Holding digits vs. holding a face

Verbal working memory uses left-hemisphere language areas like Broca's area, while visual working memory recruits right-hemisphere parietal and occipital regions. Both rely on prefrontal cortex for maintenance.

Test yourself

  1. Which brain region is most critical for actively maintaining the digits in working memory?

  2. What role does Broca's area play in holding a phone number in your head?

  3. The phonological store in working memory is primarily associated with which region?

0 of 3 answered · 0 correct

Simplified: many regions work together at once, and this shows the main players in the order they act.