Process-oriented brain research: a cognitive approach
The paper shows that the purpose of experimental cognition research is to develop experimental paradigms for identifying and manipulating cognitive mechanisms and processes that are potentially associated with differences in intelligence. Based on the study of the evolution of approaches to the formation of a "general theory" of intelligence, conclusions are drawn about which concepts can be applied to form ideas about the work of the brain based on experimental cognitive psychology. The article shows that at present the existence of a general theory of intelligence is not recognized in modern science. Modern research studies a set of ideas formulated as a set of axioms and assumptions that explains reliable empirical data and important real-world phenomena concerning the nature of individual differences in intellectual behavior. It is also proved that one of the options for obtaining more theoretically sound indicators of cognitive mechanisms and processes is the use of models of cognitive measurement. These models provide a formal description of the various mechanisms and processes that contribute to the observed behavior in cognitive tasks. They can be used to obtain relatively pure indicators of these mechanisms and processes through their parameters. If a model parameter has a strong influence on the model's prediction of task performance, then individual differences in the cognitive mechanism reflected by this parameter may underlie intelligence. In conclusion, it is concluded that if a certain degree of generalization in cognitive tasks and subject areas can be demonstrated, as well as stability over time, the model parameter can be interpreted as reflecting the cognitive basis of intelligence.