An unresolved issue exists in the study of mental ability: which aspect of cognition is responsible for the emergence of psychometric “g” (Spearman, 1904, 1927), a general factor that predicts performance in all kinds of cognitive tasks and many important life outcomes? On the basis of themes present in the literature on fluid intelligence (Chapter 1), this thesis explores the relative contributions of processing, storage, and task modelling demands to the recruitment of g in task performance. Six experiments are presented which employed two computer-based tasks. The tasks were designed such that the level of demand for processing and storage was separated and manipulated in order to establish their relationship to scores on a standard test of g. Task manipulations were implemented in the context of varying the number of distinct verbal chunks in which task instructions were presented, whilst controlling for the presented amount of operative task-relevant information. The findings showed that the recruitment of g in task performance was strengthened by the presence (versus the absence) of a requirement to inhibit a prepotent response tendency (Experiments 1, 2, and 3), and by the presence of requirements to inhibit a prepared response and to maintain and update information in working memory (Experiments 4 and 5). However, these effects were observed only when task instructions were presented as four (and not as two) distinct rules. Additional findings showed that reconceptualisation of task requirements—that is, flexibly imposing order on a complex set of instructions thus reducing the number of distinct verbal chunks—was dependent on performance on the test of Spearman’s g (Experiments 3 through 6). These findings are deemed consistent with a task conceptualisation theory of g, with real-time execution demand, particularly inhibition, posing as a risk factor for the recruitment of g only when task requirements are maintained in mind as a relatively large number of chunks or rules.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of irrelevant thoughts on golf performance.26 junior golfers participated in a repeated measures experiment where the effects ofirrelevant thoughts, through a working memory task, on golf performance was investigated.The participants got to hit 12 golf shots, 6 without working memory task and 6 with workingmemory task. A significant difference was found in both dependent variables lateral deviationand time. The participants had bigger lateral deviation and took longer time to complete theirshots when having a working memory task. The results from the study indicates thatirrelevant thoughts could impair junior golfers performance, although more research is neededon the subject for senior golfers. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka effekten av irrelevanta tankar på golfprestation. 26 juniorgolfare deltog i ett upprepat mätnings experiment där effekterna av irrelevanta tankar,genom ett arbetsminnestest, på golfprestation undersöktes. Deltagarna fick slå 12 golfslag, 6 utan arbetsminnestest och 6 med arbetsminnestest. En signifikant skillnad hittades i båda beroende variablerna spridning i sidled samt tid. Deltagarna hade större spridning och tog längre på sig att slå sina slag när de hade ett arbetsminnestest. Resultaten från studien indikerar att irrelevanta tankar kan försämra juniorgolfares prestation, däremot behövs vidareforskning kring ämnet för seniorgolfare.

Introduction: Being able to ignore distracting thoughts is often linked with better sports performance (Kane & Engle, 2003). Depending on how the performer directs their attentional focus it can either enhance or impair performance (Wulf & Su, 2016). However, the combined effects of distracting thoughts and attentional focus on motor performance need to be further explored. Objective: To examine the effects of distracting thoughts on golf shot performance during internal and external focus of attention. Methods: Twenty Swedish senior golf players, with ages varying between 21-52, were instructed to hit a golf ball as straight and as far as possible, both with (dual-task conditions) and without (single-task conditions) distracting thoughts, either with internal or external focus of attention. After each of these four conditions, participants evaluated their cognitive effort using a Rating Scale Mental Effort (RSME; Zijlstra, 1993). Results: In the single-task conditions, directing attentional focus externally was linked with an improved performance compared to an internal focus of attention which impaired performance. Findings also showed an impaired performance in the dual-task conditions, compared to single-task conditions. No substantial performance effects were found when comparing external with internal focus of attention under dual-task conditions. Results from the RSME showed that it requires more cognitive effort when performing a golf shot while influenced by distracting thoughts. Also, more cognitive effort was required during internal focus of attention compared to external focus of attention, which was true both with and without distracting thoughts. Conclusions: The current study’s findings indicate that there is a negative relationship between distracting thoughts and golf shot performance, also, focus of attention does not influence golf shot performance during dual-task. The findings also contribute to an increased knowledge concerning the association between dual-task, focus of attention and performance. This knowledge could be implemented into golf practice, both theoretical and practical, to enhance golf performance. / Introduktion: Att kunna ignorera distraherande tankar är ofta sammankopplat med bättre idrottsprestationer (Kane & Engle, 2003). Beroende på hur utövaren riktar sin uppmärksamhetsfokus kan det antingen bidra till en förbättrad eller försämrad prestation (Wulf & Su, 2016). Däremot finns det behov av att vidare utforska den kombinerade effekten som distraherande tankar och uppmärksamhetsfokus har på motorisk prestation. Syfte: Att undersöka effekterna av distraherande tankar på golfslagsprestation under intern och extern uppmärksamhetsfokus. Metod: Tjugo svenska senior golfspelare, i åldrarna 21–52, hade som uppgift att slå golfslag så långt och rakt som möjligt, både med (dual-task conditions) och utan (single-task conditions) distraherande tankar, med antingen intern eller extern uppmärksamhetsfokus. Deltagarna värderade även sin upplevda kognitiva ansträngning efter varje förhållande med hjälp av Rating Scale Mental Effort (RSME; Zijlstra, 1993). Resultat: Vid single-task förhållandet var externt riktat uppmärksamhetsfokus kopplat till en bättre prestation jämfört med internt riktat fokus som i stället försämrade prestationsförmågan. Resultatet visade också en försämrad prestation i förhållandet med dual-task, jämfört med single-task förhållandet. Inga betydande prestationseffekter hittades vid jämförelse mellan extern och intern uppmärksamhetsfokus under dual-task förhållandet. Slutsats: Den aktuella studiens resultat indikerar att det finns ett negativt samband mellan distraherande tankar och golfprestation, samt att uppmärksamhetsfokus inte påverkar golfprestation under dual-task. Resultaten bidrar till en ökad kunskap om relationen mellan dual-task, uppmärksamhetsfokus och prestation. Denna kunskap kan implementeras i golfträning, både teoretisk och praktisk, för att förbättra golfprestation.