Intellectual growth in children as a function of domain specific and domain general working memory subgroups

This study examined whether children's growth on measures of fluid (Raven Colored Progressive Matrices) and crystallized (reading and math achievement) intelligence was attributable to domain-specific or domain-general functions of working memory (WM). A sample of 290 elementary school children was tested on measures of intelligence across three testing waves. Two methods, a hierarchical factor model predicting latent growth and a double dissociation design comparing children divided into high and low performers, tested whether general and/or specific components accounted for performance on intelligence measures. A general domain model for the total sample provided the best fit for latent growth on all measures. Further, the lack of a significant WM subgroup × domain interaction suggested that a general WM system underlies the individual differences on measures of fluid and crystallized intelligence. Overall, the findings support a domain-general view of WM capacity on intelligence measures in children, but also suggest that domain specific storage systems may come into play on isolated measures.

► We model children's growth on measures of intelligence.
► Our model attributed growth to domain-general working memory.
► A dissociation design further supported the influence of a domain-general system.