Individual differences in attention abilities predict performance in a number of domains. We suggest that two aspects of attention are especially important for variation in attention abilities: intensity and consistency. We review evidence suggesting that individual differences in the amount of attention allocated to a task (intensity) and how consistently attention is allocated to a task (consistency) are related to each other and to overall task performance. We suggest that a number of factors (e.g., capacity, arousal, regulation, motivation) drive variation in intensity and consistency and demonstrate that these two aspects of attention are important in accounting for variation in working memory, learning, and preparatory control. Examining individual differences in both intensity and consistency will be important in order to understand variation in attention abilities in and out of the laboratory.

注意力能力的个体差异可以预测许多领域的表现。我们建议注意的两个方面对于注意能力的变化尤为重要：强度和一致性。我们审查的证据表明，分配给任务的注意力（强度）的个体差异以及分配给任务的注意力的一致性（一致性）彼此相关，并且与整体任务绩效相关。我们建议许多因素（例如，能力、唤醒、调节、动机）驱动强度和一致性的变化，并证明注意力的这两个方面对于解释工作记忆、学习和准备控制的变化很重要。