Working memory, inhibition, and fluid intelligence as predictors of performance on Tower of Hanoi and London tasks

Nancy A Zook; Deana B Davalos; Edward L Delosh; Hasker P Davis

doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2004.07.003

Working memory, inhibition, and fluid intelligence as predictors of performance on Tower of Hanoi and London tasks

Brain Cogn. 2004 Dec;56(3):286-92. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2004.07.003.

Authors

Nancy A Zook¹, Deana B Davalos, Edward L Delosh, Hasker P Davis

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80543, USA. nazook@lamar.colostate.edu

PMID: 15522766
DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2004.07.003

Abstract

The contributions of working memory, inhibition, and fluid intelligence to performance on the Tower of Hanoi (TOH) and Tower of London (TOL) were examined in 85 undergraduate participants. All three factors accounted for significant variance on the TOH, but only fluid intelligence accounted for significant variance on the TOL. When the contribution of fluid intelligence was accounted for, working memory and inhibition continued to account for significant variance on the TOH. These findings support argument that fluid intelligence contributes to executive functioning, but also show that the executive processes elicited by tasks vary according to task structure.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Comparative Study
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cognition*
Female
Games, Experimental
Humans
Inhibition, Psychological*
Intelligence Tests
Intelligence*
Male
Memory, Short-Term*
Predictive Value of Tests
Problem Solving*
Reference Values
Thinking