Processing Speed

What is Processing Speed?

Processing Speed (Gs) is one of the four main indices measured by standard IQ tests like the WAIS-IV. It measures how quickly and efficiently your brain can process simple visual information and make decisions.

Think of it as the “clock speed” of a computer’s CPU. It doesn’t measure how complex a problem you can solve (that’s Fluid Intelligence), but rather how fast you can perform simple mental operations without error.

Measuring Speed

In an IQ test, processing speed is usually measured with timed tasks using pencil and paper, such as:

• Symbol Search: Scanning a row of symbols to see if a target symbol appears.
• Coding: Matching numbers to symbols according to a key as fast as possible.

Fast vs. Smart

There is a common misconception that “smart” equals “fast.” While there is a positive correlation between processing speed and general intelligence (g), they are not the same thing.

• High Speed: Allows for rapid learning, quick reading, and efficient task completion.
• Low Speed: Does not mean low intelligence. Many highly gifted individuals have average or finding processing speeds. They may be “deep thinkers” rather than “fast thinkers.”

The Impact of Low Processing Speed

A bottleneck in processing speed can hamper higher-level thinking. If it takes you too long to decode a word (low speed), you may forget the beginning of the sentence by the time you reach the end (taxing Working Memory). This is why processing speed is often the first thing to decline with age, and why it is a common deficit in ADHD.

Improving Processing Speed

Unlike Fluid Intelligence, which is hard to move, processing speed can sometimes be improved through practice, video games (action games have been shown to boost visual processing), and treating underlying conditions like sleep deprivation or anxiety.