Purpose: To localize and compare the neural basis of verbal and visual human working memory, we erforrned functional activation study using H2O PET. Materials and MethoDs: Repeated H213O PET scans with one control and three different activation tasks were performed on six right-handed narmal volunteers. Each activation task was composed of 13 matching trials. On each trial, four targets, a fixation dot and a probe were presented sequentially and subjects task was to press a response button to indicate whether or nat the probe was one of the previous targets. Short meaningful Korean words, simple drawings and monochromic pictures of human faces were used as matching objects for verbal or visual memory. All the images were spatially normalized and the differences between control and activation states were statistically analyzed using SPM96. Results: Statistical analysis of verbal memory activation with short words showed activation in the left Broca's area, premotor cortex, cerebellum and right cingulate gyrus. In verbal memory with simple drawings, activation was shown in the larger regions including where activated with short words and left superior temporal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, prefrontal cortex, anterior portion of right superior temporal gyrus and right infero-lateral frontal cortex. On the other hand, the visual memory task activated predominantly right-sided structures, especially inferior frontal cortex, supplementary motor cortex and superior parietal cortex. Conclusion: The results are :consistent with the hypothesis of the laterality and dissociation of the verbal and visual workmg memory from the invasive electrophysiological studies and emphasize the pivotal role of frontal cortex and cingulate gyrus in working memory system. (Korean J Nucl Med 1998;32:238-49)