Domain-general object encoding ability explains shared variance between perception and memory factors

Domain-general object recognition ability (o) is an individual’s capacity to tell apartsimilar objects. O has been measured using tasks that make strong demands on eitherperception or memory. Both types of tasks ought to require precise encoding of high-level visualdetails. However, the assumption that each task type measures perception and memory to adiffering extent has not been tested, nor has the critical assumption that they both tap into thesame high-level visual ability when other relevant abilities are controlled. An online sample (n =275) completed a battery of perceptual and memory type object recognition tests alongsidetests of low-level perception, working memory, and general intelligence. Preregisteredstructural equation models were used to examine the overlap among abilities. Perception andmemory o tests loaded onto two separable factors, with the perceptual o factor relating to low-level visual perception and the memory o factor relating to working memory. Both o factorswere strongly correlated, and remained so when general intelligence, low-level perception andworking memory abilities were controlled. These results are consistent with the view that bothtypes of tasks measure the same o ability in addition to either perception or memory ability.General intelligence explained a large share of the ability to make high-level visualdiscriminations, but a substantial proportion of variance remained independent. The resultsmay be taken to suggest that both perception and memory o tests measure a domain-general,high-level encoding ability.