Ten years of the P-FIT model: Replications, refinements, and future directions

This symposium will provide an overview of the current state of the literature on the Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory (P-FIT) of intelligence, outlining the most important developments since its inception as well as the... [ view full abstract ]

This symposium will provide an overview of the current state of the literature on the Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory (P-FIT) of intelligence, outlining the most important developments since its inception as well as the major goals, questions, and opportunities for the next phase of research. Drs. Jung and Haier will first lead a joint presentation in which they respectively review the last ten years of research on the P-FIT model, detail the emerging directions and potential advances anticipated over the next ten years, and then offer a “point-counterpoint” discussion that describes the reasons for hope versus skepticism regarding the role those advances might play in enhancing human intelligence. In the third presentation, Dr. Euler will review a key set of recent studies that have helped to further specify the role of fronto-parietal networks in cognitive differences, and support novel hypotheses that aim to link P-FIT at the physiological level to broader issues in intelligence such as cognitive differentiation and investment theory. Finally, in the fourth presentation, Dr. Genc will discuss his group’s recent findings illustrating how advanced multimodal imaging permits a more detailed delineation of the complex structure-function relationships that likely underlie the P-FIT’s role in higher-order cognition. The symposium will conclude with a brief discussion of issues related to P-FIT’s past and future led by Dr. Roberto Colom (discussant).