Process overlap theory provides a contemporary explanation for the positive correlations observed among cognitive ability measures, a phenomenon which intelligence researchers refer to as the positive manifold. According to process overlap theory, cognitive tasks tap domain-general executive processes as well as domain-specific processes, and correlations between measures reflect the degree of overlap in the cognitive processes that are engaged when performing the tasks. In this article, we discuss points of agreement and disagreement between the executive attention framework and process overlap theory, with a focus on attention control: the domain-general ability to maintain focus on task-relevant information and disengage from irrelevant and no-longer relevant information. After describing the steps our lab has taken to improve the measurement of attention control, we review evidence suggesting that attention control can explain many of the positive correlations between broad cognitive abilities, such as fluid intelligence, working memory capacity, and sensory discrimination ability. Furthermore, when these latent variables are modeled under a higher-order g factor, attention control has the highest loading on g, indicating a strong relationship between attention control and domain-general cognitive ability. In closing, we reflect on the challenge of directly measuring cognitive processes and provide suggestions for future research.

过程重叠理论为认知能力测量之间观察到的正相关提供了当代解释，智力研究人员将这种现象称为正流形。根据过程重叠理论，认知任务既涉及领域一般的执行过程，也涉及特定领域的过程，度量之间的相关性反映了执行任务时所从事的认知过程的重叠程度。在本文中，我们讨论了执行注意力框架和过程重叠理论之间的一致和分歧点，重点是注意力控制：保持关注与任务相关的信息和脱离不相关和不再相关的领域一般能力信息。在描述了我们实验室为改进注意力控制测量所采取的步骤之后，我们回顾了表明注意力控制可以解释广泛认知能力（如流体智力、工作记忆能力和感觉辨别能力）之间的许多正相关的证据。此外，当这些潜在变量在高阶下建模时g因子，注意力控制对g的负载最高，表明注意力控制与领域一般认知能力之间存在很强的关系。最后，我们反思了直接测量认知过程的挑战，并为未来的研究提供了建议。