Evidence for the relationship between individual alpha frequency (IAF) and cognitive ability (general intelligence) is inconclusive, and the role of alpha rhythm in shaping cognition is hotly debated. This study aimed to provide more conclusive evidence. EEG was recorded during three resting state sessions, a vigilance session, and a short-term visual memory task. Six respective IAF estimates were calculated for a total of 153 participants. Participants also completed the battery of 17 tests measuring four main dimensions of cognitive ability: fluid reasoning, working memory, visual discrimination, and processing speed. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the factors reflecting fluid reasoning, working memory, and visual discrimination, as well as the higher-order factor reflecting general intelligence, were unrelated to the IAF factor. At the same time, IAF positively correlated with processing speed, sharing 5.5% of variance. The EEG findings were replicated in another sample (N = 94) using MEG data and a different cognitive-ability assessment. Overall, the study implies that brains with higher IAFs do run faster, but it does not make them smarter. The study clarifies the so far equivocal relationship between the individual frequency of the dominating alpha rhythm and cognitive functioning.

个体阿尔法频率 (IAF) 与认知能力（一般智力）之间关系的证据尚无定论，阿尔法节律在塑造认知中的作用也引起了激烈的争论。本研究旨在提供更确凿的证据。在三个静息状态会话、警戒会话和短期视觉记忆任务期间记录脑电图。计算了总共 153 名参与者的六个 IAF 估计值。参与者还完成了 17 项测试，测量认知能力的四个主要维度：流畅推理、工作记忆、视觉辨别和处理速度。验证性因素分析表明，反映流体推理、工作记忆和视觉辨别的因素以及反映一般智力的高阶因素与IAF因素无关。同时，IAF 与处理速度呈正相关，方差为 5.5%。脑电图结果在另一个样本中重复（N  = 94）使用 MEG 数据和不同的认知能力评估。总体而言，这项研究表明，具有较高 IAF 的大脑确实运行得更快，但并不会使它们更聪明。该研究阐明了迄今为止主导阿尔法节律的个体频率与认知功能之间的模棱两可的关系。