Beyond Working Memory Capacity: Attention Control as the Underlying Mechanism of Cognitive Abilities

TL;DR

This paper argues that attention control, not just memory storage, explains differences in complex thinking and reviews evidence across multiple domains.

Contribution

The paper introduces attention control as a key mechanism underlying cognitive abilities beyond traditional working memory capacity.

Findings

WMC effects often align with attention control demands across six domains.

Latent-variable approaches are recommended to distinguish storage and control processes.

Attention control is critical in perception, decision-making, and multitasking.

Abstract

Working memory capacity (WMC) has long served as a central indicator of individual differences in complex cognition. However, growing evidence suggests that a substantial portion of its predictive power may reflect attention control (AC)—including goal maintenance, interference management, and inhibition—rather than storage capacity alone. This review synthesizes findings across six domains: (1) perception and sensory discrimination, (2) learning and problem solving, (3) cognitive control and decision making, (4) retrieval and memory performance, (5) multitasking and real-world performance, and (6) clinical applications. Across these areas, WMC-related effects frequently align with demands on AC, though the strength and nature of this alignment vary by domain. We highlight the importance of incorporating reliable AC measures and recommend latent-variable approaches to more clearly separate storage, control, and representational processes underlying complex performance.

Figures