A study was conducted in which 133 participants performed 11 memory tasks (some thought to reflect working memory and some thought to reflect short-term memory), 2 tests of general fluid intelligence, and the Verbal and Quantitative Scholastic Aptitude Tests. Structural equation modeling suggested that short-term and working memories reflect separate but highly related constructs and that many of the tasks used in the literature as working memory tasks reflect a common construct. Working memory shows a strong connection to fluid intelligence, but short-term memory does not. A theory of working memory capacity and general fluid intelligence is proposed: The authors argue that working memory capacity and fluid intelligence reflect the ability to keep a representation active, particularly in the face of interference and distraction. The authors also discuss the relationship of this capability to controlled attention, and the functions of the prefrontal cortex.

Working memory,short-term memory, and general fluid intellegence : A latent-variable approach

Working memory, short-term memory, and general fluid intelligence: A latent-variable approach.

We provide an “executive-attention” framework for organizing the cognitive neuroscience research on the constructs of working-memory capacity (WMC), general fluid intelligence, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) function. Rather than provide a novel theory of PFC function, we synthesize a wealth of singlecell, brain-imaging, and neuropsychological research through the lens of our theory of normal individual differences in WMC and attention control (Engle, Kane, & Tuholski, 1999; Engle, Tuholski, Laughlin, & Conway, 1999). Our critical review confirms the prevalent view that dorsolateral PFC circuitry is critical to executive-attention functions. Moreover, although the dorsolateral PFC is but one critical structure in a network of anterior and posterior “attention control” areas, it does have a unique executiveattention role in actively maintaining access to stimulus representations and goals in interference-rich contexts. Our review suggests the utility of an executive-attention framework for guiding future research on both PFC function and cognitive control.

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The role of prefrontal cortex in working-memory capacity, executive attention, and general fluid intelligence: An individual-differences perspective

In 3 prior meta-analyses, the relationship between the Big Five factors of personality and job criteria was investigated. However, these meta-analyses showed different findings. Furthermore, these reviews included studies carried out only in the United States and Canada. This study reports meta-analytic research on the same topic but with studies conducted in the European Community, which were not included in the prior reviews. The results indicate that Conscientiousness and Emotional Stability are valid predictors across job criteria and occupational groups. The remaining factors are valid only for some criteria and for some occupational groups. Extraversion was a predictor for 2 occupations, and Openness and Agreeableness were valid predictors of training proficiency. These findings are consistent with M.R. Barrick and M.K. Mount (1991) and L.M. Hough, N.K. Eaton, M.D. Dunnette, J.D. Kamp, and R.A. McCloy (1990). Implications of the results for future research and the practice of personnel selection are suggested.

The five factor model of personality and job performance in the European Community.

Critical requirements for the hypothesis that executive functioning is a potential mediator of age-related effects on cognitive functioning are that variables assumed to reflect executive functioning represent a distinct construct and that age-related effects on other types of cognitive functioning are reduced when measures of executive functioning are statistically controlled. These issues were investigated in a study involving 261 adults between 18 and 84 years of age. Although age-related effects on various cognitive abilities were substantially reduced after statistical control of the variance in measures hypothesized to represent executive functioning, there was only weak evidence for the existence of distinct constructs corresponding to executive functioning or to aspects of executive control concerned with inhibition, updating, or time sharing.

Executive Functioning as a Potential Mediator of Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Normal Adults.

Young drivers are statistically overrepresented in road accidents. Their elevated risk is a complex function of chronological age and driving experience, both of which are associated with acceptance and misperception of risk on the road. A better understanding of the cognitive changes which accompany their transition from novice to experienced driver status should allow us to elucidate the factors underlying their acceptance and misperception of traffic risk. With, such an understanding, we would be in a better position to take decisions about improving their safety via training and education schemes rather than via legislative constraints on their exposure to risk. This paper considers evidence that young drivers underestimate certain traffic hazards and overestimate their own driving abilities. The potential contribution of these misperceptions to their faulty decision taking during skills acquisition is discussed in the light of recent findings from relevant research. Some implications for fut...

Risk perception and decision taking during the transition between novice and experienced driver status

Assessing one's own and others' driving ability: influences of sex, age, and experience.

It is impossible to determine the degree to which a driver is absorbed in his driving by measuring his overt responses directly. However, relatively small changes in his spare ‘ mental capacity ’ can be detected by scoring his performance on a subsidiary task, which has no adverse effect upon driving. This technique is sufficiently sensitive to reveal the higher level of concentration required in a shopping area as compared with that required in a residential area

Measuring the spare ‘mental capacity ’of car drivers by a subsidiary task

Using an instrumented car driven in normal traffic, we assessed the driving skills of trained experts, of normal, experienced drivers, and of novices. Previous research suggests a fairly simple picture of improvement in driving skills with experience, and for aspects of car control (e.g., steering path, speed of manoeuvres) our results confirm this: normals largely resembled experts, while novices performed more poorly. There are reasons to suspect, however, that experience may not always be so beneficial. For example, one important variable may be feedback, or information indicating to the driver that a particular action is or is not important in terms of overall goals (progress, safety, etc.). Where feedback is good, simple experience may bring expertise, but where feedback is poor, skills may fail to improve or even deteriorate once explicit tuition is removed. Correspondingly, our findings showed that for scanning patterns (e.g., mirror checking), anticipation (e.g., braking into an intersection), and...

I. D. Brown

Papers

Risk perception and decision taking during the transition between novice and experienced driver status

Assessing one's own and others' driving ability: influences of sex, age, and experience.

Measuring the spare ‘mental capacity ’of car drivers by a subsidiary task

Components of driving skill: experience does not mean expertise

Exposure and experience are a confounded nuisance in research on driver behaviour.