The Associations between Results in Different Domains of Cognitive and Psychomotor Abilities Measured in Medical Students

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the associations between intelligence quotient test scores obtained using the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM) and psychomotor testing using the Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac (CRD) test battery, while taking into account previous theoretical approaches recognizing intelligent behavior as the cumulative result of a general biological speed factor reflected in the reaction time for perceptual detections and motor decisions. A total of 224 medical students at the University of Split School of Medicine were recruited. Their IQ scores were assessed using Raven's APM, while the computerized tests of CRD-series were used for testing the reaction time of perception to visual stimulus (CRD311), psychomotor limbs coordination task (CRD411), and solving simple arithmetic operations (CRD11). The total test-solving (TTST) and the minimum single-task-solving (MinT) times were analyzed. On the CRD11 test, task-solving times were shorter in students with higher APM scores (r = -0.48 for TTST and r = -0.44 for MinT; p < 0.001 for both). Negative associations between task-solving times and APM scores were reported on CRD311 (r = -0.30 for TTST and r = -0.33 for MinT, p < 0.001 for both). Negative associations between task-solving times in CRD411 and APM scores (r = -0.40 for TTST and r = -0.30 for MinT, p < 0.001 for both) were found. Faster reaction time in psychomotor limbs coordination tasks, the reaction time of perception to visual stimulus, and the reaction time of solving simple arithmetic operations were associated with a higher APM score in medical students, indicating the importance of mental speed in intelligence test performance. However, executive system functions, such as attention, planning, and goal weighting, might also impact cognitive abilities and should be considered in future research.

Keywords: cognition; intelligence test; medical students; psychomotor performance.

Figure 1

Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac (CRD)-series. In this research, test CRD311 assessing discrimination of simple visual stimulus was solved on the left panel marked with number 3, test CRD411 assessing complex psychomotor coordination was solved on the middle panel marked with number 4, and test CRD11 assessing convergent thinking through solving simple mathematical operations was solved on the right panel marked with number 1. The light stimulus in all tests was presented in small circles on each panel.

Figure 2

Study flow chart. A total of 224 medical students were tested with Raven’s APM and three tests (CRD311, CRD411, and CRD11) of the CRD-series test battery. APM = Advanced Progressive Matrices, CRD = Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac.

Figure 3

Total test-solving time (A,B) and minimum single-task-solving time (C,D) on test CRD11 (A,C) and tests CRD311 and CRD411 (B,D). Each panel shows overlying individual data points, with each point representing results of a single subject. CRD = Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac, TTST = total test-solving time, MinT = minimum single-task-solving time.

Figure 4

The correlations between results on CRD-series and APM scores. On upper panels ((A) for test CRD11, (B) for test CRD311, and (C) for test CRD411) are shown correlations between total test-solving times with APM scores, while on lower panels ((D) for test CRD11, (E) for test CRD311, and (F) for test CRD411) are shown correlations between minimum single-task-solving time and APM score. There were significant negative correlations between APM score and results on three tests of the CRD-series, where longer TTST and MinT on each CRD-series test was correlated with lower APM score. APM = Advanced Progressive Matrices, CRD = Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac, TTST = total test-solving time, MinT = minimum single-task-solving time.