title: Contextual analysis of fluid intelligence.
abstract: The nature of fluid intelligence was investigated by identifying variables that were, and were not, significantly related to this construct. Relevant information was obtained from three sources: re-analyses of data from previous studies, a study in which 791 adults performed storage-plus-processing working memory tasks, and a study in which 236 adults performed a variety of working memory, updating, and cognitive control tasks. The results suggest that fluid intelligence represents a broad individual difference dimension contributing to diverse types of controlled or effortful processing. The analyses also revealed that very few of the age-related effects on the target variables were statistically independent of effects on established cognitive abilities, which suggests most of the age-related influences on a wide variety of cognitive control variables overlap with age-related influences on cognitive abilities such as fluid intelligence, episodic memory, and perceptual speed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400.
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Salthouse
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pink
authors.forename: Elliot M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tucker-Drob