Embedding cognizance in intellectual development

• Awareness of cognitive processes mediates between processing efficiency and fluid cognition.
• Mediation is phase-specific, based on perceptual awareness at 5–6 and inferential awareness at 7–8 years.
• Awareness of cognitive processes is more accurate at the end developmental cycles.
• Working memory mediates between speed and perceptual awareness and attention control.
• Awareness underlies common resources between attention, working memory, and reasoning.

This study examined whether cognizance of cognitive processes (i.e., awareness of the perceptual and inferential origins of knowledge) mediates between basic processing efficiency functions (i.e., processing speed, attention control, and working memory) and fluid cognition (e.g., performance on Raven-like matrices) during development. For this aim, children from 4 to 8 years of age were examined by various measures addressed to each of these processes. All processes developed systematically throughout this age period. Structural equation modeling showed that awareness does have this mediating role, that this mediation is phase specific based on perceptual awareness and theory of mind during the 5- and 6-year phase and on inferential awareness during the 7- and 8-year phase, and that it builds up within each developmental cycle. Attention control emerges from, rather than directs, working memory and largely remains beyond awareness through the age span studied. Implications for theory of intellectual development are discussed.