Working Memory Capacity, Attention Control, and Fluid Intelligence

Associative learning predicts intelligence above and beyond working memory and processing speed

“…Individuals differ in their working memory, and those with higher working memory are better able to control their attention so as to maintain their task goals in the presence of interference (Conway, Cowan, & Bunting, 2001;Kane, Bleckley, Conway, & Engle, 2001;Unsworth, Schrock, & Engle, 2004). Working memory is strongly correlated with g (Conway et al, 2007;Heitz, Unsworth, & Engle, 2004). There is convincing evidence for a mechanistic link between working memory and g: tasks assessing g and working memory engage shared neural substrates, in lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) as well as left and right parietal regions (Gray, Chabris, & Braver, 2003;Gray & Thompson, 2004).…”

Improved matrix reasoning is limited to training on tasks with a visuospatial component

“…while simultaneously manipulating and processing incoming information, which is the accepted definition of working memory (Heitz, Unsworth, & Engle, 2004). Working memory capacity (WMC) refers to the number of units (i.e., amount of information) that can be stored while processing incoming information and ignoring irrelevant information and, is often referred to as the control mechanism in WM (Cowan, 2010).…”

Working memory, short-term memory, and naming speed as predictors of children's mathematical performance

“…Recent studies with adult participants, however, have shown that WM and STM are distinct, but highly related processes (e.g., see Heitz, Unsworth, & Engle, 2005, for a review). For example, Engle et al (1999) investigated the relationship among measures of STM, WM, and fluid intelligence in adults.…”