biostudies-literatureLi MNIDA NIH HHSMinistry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of ChinaMinistry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology)NIH HHS7786https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11379965biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Since the birth of cognitive science, researchers have used reaction time and accuracy to measure cognitive ability. Although recognition of these two measures is often based on empirical observations, the underlying consensus is that most cognitive behaviors may be along two fundamental dimensions: cognitive processing speed (CPS) and cognitive processing accuracy (CPA). In this study, we used genomic-wide association studies (GWAS) data from 14 cognitive traits to show the presence of those two factors and revealed the specific neurobiological basis underlying them. We identified that CPS and CPA had distinct brain phenotypes (e.g. white matter microstructure), neurobiological bases (e.g. postsynaptic membrane), and developmental periods (i.e. late infancy). Moreover, those two factors sNature communicationsCognitive processing speed and accuracy are intrinsically different in genetic architecture and brain phenotypes.PMC11379965U01 DA041117U24 DA041123U24 DA041147U01DA041106U01 DA041174U01DA041028U01DA041148U01DA041048U01DA041025U01 DA041156U01 DA041134U01DA041089U01DA041022U01DA0411202021ZD0200202U01DA050987U01DA050988U01 DA041093U01DA051039U01DA051038U01DA051016U01DA051018U01DA051037U01 DA051037U01 DA041106U01 DA041028U01 DA041089U01 DA041022U01 DA041120U01DA041117U01 DA041148U24DA041147U01 DA041048U24DA041123U01 DA041025U01DA041134U01DA041156U01 DA051039U01 DA051038U01 DA051016U01 DA051018U01DA041174U01 DA050988U01 DA050987U01 DA050989U01DA041093Chen ZChen YWu DXu XDang XZhao ZLi MfalseCognitive processing speed and accuracy are intrinsically different in genetic architecture and brain phenotypes.Since the birth of cognitive science, researchers have used reaction time and accuracy to measure cognitive ability. Although recognition of these two measures is often based on empirical observations, the underlying consensus is that most cognitive behaviors may be along two fundamental dimensions: cognitive processing speed (CPS) and cognitive processing accuracy (CPA). In this study, we used genomic-wide association studies (GWAS) data from 14 cognitive traits to show the presence of those two factors and revealed the specific neurobiological basis underlying them. We identified that CPS and CPA had distinct brain phenotypes (e.g. white matter microstructure), neurobiological bases (e.g. postsynaptic membrane), and developmental periods (i.e. late infancy). Moreover, those two factors s2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Sep2026-06-01T06:49:47.367Z2025-04-03T23:55:22.47ZS-EPMC113799653924260510.1038/s41467-024-52222-8