6/28/2004
desjardins/honig COGNITION
73
Fluid and Crystallized Abilities
•Fluid intelligence –
–refers to capabilities such as associative memory,
abstracting, inductive
reasoning and problem solving.
–Dependent on neurophysiological functioning and intact
CNS
–May diminish slightly following adolescence
•Crystallized intelligence –
–Refers to skills such as verbal comprehension and
handling of word
relationships
–Dependent on learning and experience
–May increase with advancing years
•The average intelligence may look about the same over
the middle years because
the increases in crystallized intelligence
balance the loss in fluid intelligence.