3 ms·

I haven't read the article yet, so I may be off base here, but... While I don't doubt their results, you make a good point that it's important to not over-gene

I haven't read the article yet, so I may be off base here, but... While I don't doubt their results, you make a good point that it's important to not over-generalize the results by mistaking neuronal processing speed for mental acuity. Motor control, maybe, and this may help explain why the elderly are frail and unsteady. However, to make any claims about reduced cognitive abilities, you need to show that neuroplasticity cannot compensate for the impaired processing speed. However, even if it can be compensated for, it would still a case of "use it or lose it".

Retric 18y ago
There is a direct link between processing speed and intellect. The faster you think the more things you can think about at the same time which is probably why reading faster increases comprehension. One of the ideas is that when you bring up a memory you keep it "alive" for a consistent fraction of a second, but if you can bring more things into focus you have more time to work out relationships before your first memory / idea times out. PS: Think about what it's like once you "load up" a complex problem. You can't think about other things while coding, which is why people hate to be interrupted while coding.