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Processing speed as a mental capacity

R Kail1, T A Salthouse

  • 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.

Acta Psychologica
|August 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Processing speed differences across the lifespan impact higher-order cognition. While experience matters, a general mechanism likely limits processing speed, influencing reasoning and memory.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Age-related differences in cognitive abilities are well-documented.
  • Processing speed is a key cognitive function that changes throughout the lifespan.
  • Processing speed is consistently linked to performance in complex cognitive tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine domain-specific and global explanations for age differences in processing speed.
  • To review the influence of processing speed on both speeded and nonspeeded cognitive tasks.
  • To propose a lifespan perspective on processing speed as a fundamental cognitive architecture component.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on cognitive aging and processing speed.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the relationship between processing speed and higher-order cognition.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Synthesis of evidence for domain-specific versus general mechanisms affecting processing speed.

    • Main Results:

    • Age differences in processing speed are significant and correlate with higher-order cognitive performance.
    • Evidence suggests both experience-dependent and general mechanisms contribute to age-related processing speed limitations.
    • Processing speed influences the quality of performance on tasks like reasoning and memory.

    Conclusions:

    • Processing speed is a critical factor in cognitive aging, affecting various cognitive domains.
    • A general processing limitation, alongside experience, likely underlies age-related declines in speed.
    • Processing speed should be considered a foundational element of the cognitive system across the entire lifespan.