Simultaneous and successive synthesis: An alternative model for cognitive abilities

Current theories of the structure of cognitive abilities are critically examined and are found to lack adequate description of the processes underlying the abilities. An alternative model, A. Luria's (1966) theory of simultaneous and successive syntheses, is presented and discussed. This model of information processing is supported by factor analytic studies of cognitive abilities and then related to data from studies of memory, imagery, and language. A model of abilities in terms of a structure-process distinction is proposed. (64 ref)