The stability of general intelligence from early adulthood to middle-age

Larsen, Lars; Hartmann, Péter; Nyborg, Helmuth

doi:10.1016/j.intell.2007.01.001

Cited by 49 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…They support the notion that the variances of diffusion model parameters that are consistent across tasks can be considered trait-like properties of cognitive processes. Moreover, because their temporal stability is comparable to the temporal stability of intelligence tests [13,42,51], these results are consistent with the view that individual differences in diffusion model parameters reflect elementary person properties that may give rise to general intelligence.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Because intelligence is known to show a great temporal stability over longer periods of time, e.g., [13,42], diffusion model parameters should show a similar temporal stability if considered to reflect processes giving rise to individual differences in general intelligence. Moreover, if diffusion model parameters are to be considered as trait-like properties of cognitive processes, not only the temporal stability of parameters in specific tasks, but the temporal stability of model parameters across tasks-i.e., of hierarchical or latent model parameters-is of particular interest for individual differences research.…”

Section: Diffusion Model Parameters As Personality Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trait Characteristics of Diffusion Model Parameters

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Cognitive modeling of response time distributions has seen a huge rise in popularity in individual differences research. In particular, several studies have shown that individual differences in the drift rate parameter of the diffusion model, which reflects the speed of information uptake, are substantially related to individual differences in intelligence. However, if diffusion model parameters are to reflect trait-like properties of cognitive processes, they have to qualify as trait-like variables themselves, i.e., they have to be stable across time and consistent over different situations. To assess their trait characteristics, we conducted a latent state-trait analysis of diffusion model parameters estimated from three response time tasks that 114 participants completed at two laboratory sessions eight months apart. Drift rate, boundary separation, and non-decision time parameters showed a great temporal stability over a period of eight months. However, the coefficients of consistency and reliability were only low to moderate and highest for drift rate parameters. These results show that the consistent variance of diffusion model parameters across tasks can be regarded as temporally stable ability parameters. Moreover, they illustrate the need for using broader batteries of response time tasks in future studies on the relationship between diffusion model parameters and intelligence.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Diffusion Model Parameters As Personality Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trait Characteristics of Diffusion Model Parameters

et al. 2016

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“…In all three age groups, factor correlations of general intelligence were as high as r = .95 between times 1 and 2 and r = .92 between times 1 and 3, thus indicating stable, yet not perfect, interindividual differences. Similarly, Larsen et al (2008) found differential stabilities of r = .82 and r = .79, in verbal and arithmetic subtests, respectively, in a sample of middle-aged adults across 18 years. Our expectation thus was to find relatively strong, albeit not perfect, differential stability in middle adulthood across 12 years.…”

mentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Relative to older adults, middle-aged adults scored higher on all tasks except for vocabulary, where no differences emerged. Larsen et al (2008) reported a significant increase in verbal score but no change in arithmetic scores across 18 years in a sample of more than 4,000 males for two measurement occasions (ages 19 and 38). This underlines the possible gain in vocabulary in middle adulthood.…”

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confidence: 86%

Five views of a secret: does cognition change during middle adulthood?

Zimprich

Mascherek

2010

Eur J Ageing

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This study examined five aspects of change (or stability) in cognitive abilities in middle adulthood across a 12-year period. Data come from the Interdisciplinary Study on Adult Development. The sample consisted of N = 346 adults (43.8 years on average, 48.6% female). In total, 11 cognitive tests were administered to assess fluid and crystallized intelligence, memory, and processing speed. In a first series of analyses, strong measurement invariance was established. Subsequently, structural stability, differential stability, stability of divergence, absolute stability, and the generality of changes were examined. Factor covariances were shown to be equal across time, implying structural stability. Stability coefficients were around .90 for fluid and crystallized intelligence, and speed, indicating high, yet not perfect differential stability. The coefficient for memory was .58. Only in processing speed the variance increased across time, indicating heterogeneity in interindividual development. Significant mean-level changes emerged, with an increase in crystallized intelligence and decline in the other three abilities. A number of correlations among changes in cognitive abilities were significant, implying that cognitive changes in middle adulthood share up to 50 percent of variance.

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“…Placebo effects are well known in the context of drug and surgical interventions (2,3), but the specter of a placebo may arise in any intervention when the desired outcome is known to the participant-an intervention like cognitive training. Although a large body of research shows that general cognitive ability, g, is heritable (4,5) and stable in young adults (6), recent research stands in contrast to this, indicating that intelligence can be heightened by cognitive training (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). General cognitive ability and IQ are related to many important life outcomes, including academic success (13,14), job performance (15), health (16,17), morbidity (18), mortality (18,19), income (20,21), and crime (13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Placebo effects in cognitive training

Foroughi

Monfort

Paczynski

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

219

176

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Although a large body of research shows that general cognitive ability is heritable and stable in young adults, there is recent evidence that fluid intelligence can be heightened with cognitive training. Many researchers, however, have questioned the methodology of the cognitive-training studies reporting improvements in fluid intelligence: specifically, the role of placebo effects. We designed a procedure to intentionally induce a placebo effect via overt recruitment in an effort to evaluate the role of placebo effects in fluid intelligence gains from cognitive training. Individuals who self-selected into the placebo group by responding to a suggestive flyer showed improvements after a single, 1-h session of cognitive training that equates to a 5-to 10-point increase on a standard IQ test. Controls responding to a nonsuggestive flyer showed no improvement. These findings provide an alternative explanation for effects observed in the cognitive-training literature and the brain-training industry, revealing the need to account for confounds in future research.placebo effects | cognitive training | brain training | fluid intelligence

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The stability of general intelligence from early adulthood to middle-age

Cited by 49 publications

References 19 publications

Trait Characteristics of Diffusion Model Parameters

Trait Characteristics of Diffusion Model Parameters

Five views of a secret: does cognition change during middle adulthood?

Placebo effects in cognitive training

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