Intelligence refers to the ability to learn about, learn from, understand, and interact with one’s environment. Similar to working memory and cognitive control, intelligence is believed to be supported by a combination of the control and organizational abilities within our frontal lobes and the sensory information being processed by our parietal lobes (Intelligence, 2009). Working memory is a part of the brain that retains information over a short period of time and performs mental operations (Gazzaniga, Irvy, & Mangun, 2018). Cognitive control, sometimes referred to as executive function, is the process by which enables us to use our perception, knowledge and our goals or plans influence our behavior such as goal-oriented behaviors (Gazzaniga et al., 2018). Cognitive control requires working memory because working memory is critical when behavior is not exclusively stimulus driven meaning if it doesn’t grab our attention (Gazzaniga et al., 2018). For example, research indicates that one of the key factors that influences intelligence and our ability to learn and incorporate new information from our environment is the efficiency in which our brain can signal information between the frontal and parietal lobes (Intelligence, 2009). Working memory is crucial for learning and intelligence because it allows for one to hold and manipulate information long enough to use it.
