Memory, Thinking and Intelligence

Memory, Thinking and Intelligence

Two major theories on the nature of intelligence are; the first being Spearman’s Model of Intelligence, known as the general intelligence factor or g factor, which is the apex of all other intelligence. The second is Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, and he believes that there are seven forms of intelligences which he based on biological facts.

There are different test of our mental abilities that varies from a simple reaction time to more complex abstract reasoning, which are analyzed into components or factors. The highest level the g factor or general intelligence factor, also known as positive manifold (Spearman 1904) have precedence over all other intelligence and is the important factor in most tests. “The positive correlation between all cognitive test items is a given, an inexorable fact of nature” (Paik, n.d).

Spearman “administered different types of test, covering different types of cognitive abilities and he found that if a person did well in verbal abilities, that same person will do well on another test of another cognitive ability” (Paik, n.d) he named it positive manifold.

For Spearman’s reaction time and g is the correlation between reaction time and IQ. According to some psychologist IQ correlates highly to simple test. A theory based on observation links the g factor to neural processes which involves speed and efficiency.

An example of a simple reaction time “in which a light is turned on, a participant is asked to press a button as soon as he or she sees the light go on” this is where reaction time is measured (Paik, n.d). Processing information quickly relates to factor g; it can be measured from reaction time scores. This means that if a person with a faster neural reaction time, has a higher IQ, “neural processing speed determines the level of intelligence of the individual; this intelligence is one general intelligence, g” (Paik, n.d). The final understanding of g Spearman wrote “must come from the most profound and detailed direct study of the human brain in its pure physical and chemical aspects” (1927, p 403).

Where as Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, he believes there are seven different forms of intelligence, which are linguistic, musical, spatial, bodily, interpersonal, intrapersonal and logico-mathematical; Gardner based his theory on biological facts. Gardner also states that we must pay “equal attention to individuals with gifts in other intelligences such as artist, musicians, dancers, designers and others who enrich our world” (Armstrong, 1998-2000).

Gardner found that “certain brain parts can distinctively map with certain cognitive functioning (A), then that cognitive functioning can be isolated as one candidate of multiple intelligences (B)” (Paik, n.d). In his studies of individuals with disabilities, he found seven areas of the brain that is responsible for the physical function, he also argues that the brain is a “major physical determinant of intelligence” (Paik, n.d)

In a school setting Spearman’s g factor is used to test the cognitive abilities of individuals, such as “provide a specific bit of information, notice similarities between objects, solve arithmetic problems, define words, fill in missing parts of incomplete pictures, arrange pictures in logical order, arrange blocks to resemble a design, assemble puzzles, use a coding scheme, or judge what behavior is appropriate in a particular situation” (Wade & Tavris p. 321). Where as Gardner Multiple Intelligences is used