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Welhaf MS, Mata J, Jaeggi SM, Buschkuehl M, Jonides J, Gotlib IH, Thompson RJ. Mind-wandering in daily life in depressed individuals: An experience sampling study. J Affect Disord 2024; 366:244-253. [PMID: 39181165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A diagnostic criterion for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is difficulty concentrating and increased distractibility. One form of distraction that occurs in everyday life is mind-wandering. The current study aims to test how individuals with MDD and healthy controls differ in their mind-wandering in everyday life. METHODS Adults diagnosed with MDD (n = 53) and healthy controls (n = 53) completed a week of experience sampling, with prompts administered up to eight times per day. At each prompt, participants reported the occurrence and characteristics of their mind-wandering. They also reported levels of momentary negative affect (NA), positive affect (PA), and rumination. RESULTS MDD participants reported mind-wandering almost twice as often as healthy control participants. Compared to healthy participants, MDD participants rated their mind-wandering as more negative, but did not differ in terms of temporal orientation. Higher NA and lower PA predicted mind-wandering in the MDD group but not healthy controls, even after controlling for rumination. Time-lagged analyses revealed that current mind-wandering predicted future levels of PA in MDD participants but not in healthy controls; in contrast, current NA and PA did not predict future mind-wandering. LIMITATIONS Limitations include our examination of specific forms of mind-wandering (i.e., we did not sample the full spectrum of this construct). CONCLUSIONS Individuals with MDD frequently report engaging in mind-wandering in everyday life, and this appears to be coupled with affect. Mind-wandering may have maladaptive effects in MDD and could serve as a target for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Welhaf
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
| | - Jutta Mata
- School of Social Sciences, Health Psychology, University of Mannheim, Germany
| | - Susanne M Jaeggi
- Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Ian H Gotlib
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, USA
| | - Renee J Thompson
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
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2
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Zanesco AP, Van Dam NT, Denkova E, Jha AP. Measuring mind wandering with experience sampling during task performance: An item response theory investigation. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:7707-7727. [PMID: 39048861 PMCID: PMC11362314 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-024-02446-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The tendency for individuals to mind wander is often measured using experience sampling methods in which probe questions embedded within computerized cognitive tasks attempt to catch episodes of off-task thought at random intervals during task performance. However, mind-wandering probe questions and response options are often chosen ad hoc and vary between studies with extant little guidance as to the psychometric consequences of these methodological decisions. In the present study, we examined the psychometric properties of several common approaches for assessing mind wandering using methods from item response theory (IRT). IRT latent modeling demonstrated that measurement information was generally distributed across the range of trait estimates according to when probes were presented in time. Probes presented earlier in time provided more information about individuals with greater tendency to mind wandering than probes presented later. Furthermore, mind-wandering ratings made on a continuous scale or using multiple categorical rating options provided more information about individuals' latent mind-wandering tendency - across a broader range of the trait continuum - than ratings dichotomized into on-task and off-task categories. In addition, IRT provided evidence that reports of "task-related thoughts" contribute to the task-focused dimension of the construct continuum, providing justification for studies conceptualizing these responses as a kind of task-related focus. Together, we hope these findings will help guide researchers hoping to maximize the measurement precision of their mind wandering assessment procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P Zanesco
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
| | - Nicholas T Van Dam
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ekaterina Denkova
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Amishi P Jha
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
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3
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Jalava ST, Wammes JD. Slow and steady: Validating the rhythmic visual response task as a marker for attentional states. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:7079-7101. [PMID: 38724877 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-024-02409-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024]
Abstract
A principal goal of attention research is to develop tasks with clear behavioral signatures of attentional fluctuations. Measures that index attentional states often fall under two broad umbrellas: decision tasks, in which participants make responses based on the changing requirements of each trial, and rhythm tasks, in which participants respond rhythmically to a uniform stimulus (e.g., a metronome tone). In the former, response speeding typically precedes errors (indicative of attention failures). In the latter, increased response variability precedes subjective reports of off-task states. We developed and validated the rhythmic visual response task (RVRT); a rhythm task incorporating trial-unique scene stimuli. The RVRT incorporates two important advances from both task categories: (1) it is free from the influence that differential decision-making has on fluctuations in attentional states, and (2) trial-unique stimuli enable later cognitive judgments to be mapped to specific moments in the task. These features allow a relatively unobtrusive measure of mind wandering that facilitates the downstream assessment of its consequences. Participants completed 900 trials of the RVRT, interrupted periodically by thought probes that assessed their attentional state. We found that both response time variance and speed predicted depth of mind wandering. Encouraged by these findings, we used the same analysis approach on archival data to demonstrate that the combination of variance and speed best predicted attentional states in several rhythm and decision task datasets. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest future research that uses the RVRT to investigate the impact of spontaneous mind wandering on memory, decision-making, and perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaela T Jalava
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, 56 Arch St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3L3, Canada.
| | - Jeffrey D Wammes
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, 56 Arch St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3L3, Canada
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
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4
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Schubert AL, Frischkorn GT, Sadus K, Welhaf MS, Kane MJ, Rummel J. The brief mind wandering three-factor scale (BMW-3). Behav Res Methods 2024:10.3758/s13428-024-02500-6. [PMID: 39259475 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-024-02500-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, researchers from different fields have become increasingly interested in measuring individual differences in mind wandering as a psychological trait. Although there are several questionnaires that allow for an assessment of people's perceptions of their mind wandering experiences, they either define mind wandering in a very broad sense or do not sufficiently separate different aspects of mind wandering. Here, we introduce the Brief Mind Wandering Three-Factor Scale (BMW-3), a 12-item questionnaire available in German and English. The BMW-3 conceptualizes mind wandering as task-unrelated thought and measures three dimensions of mind wandering: unintentional mind wandering, intentional mind wandering, and meta-awareness of mind wandering. Based on results from 1038 participants (823 German speakers, 215 English speakers), we found support for the proposed three-factorial structure of mind wandering and for scalar measurement invariance of the German and English versions. All subscales showed good internal consistencies and moderate to high test-retest correlations and thus provide an effective assessment of individual differences in mind wandering. Moreover, the BMW-3 showed good convergent validity when compared to existing retrospective measures of mind wandering and mindfulness and was related to conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness as well as self-reported attentional control. Lastly, it predicted the propensity for mind wandering inside and outside the lab (as assessed by in-the-moment experience sampling), the frequency of experiencing depressive symptoms, and the use of functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. All in all, the BMW-3 provides a brief, reliable, and valid assessment of mind wandering for basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kathrin Sadus
- Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthew S Welhaf
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael J Kane
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Jan Rummel
- Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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5
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Welhaf MS, Bugg JM. Positively framing mind wandering does not increase mind wandering in older adults. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2024; 88:1499-1509. [PMID: 38869620 PMCID: PMC11283346 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-024-01983-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Age-related differences in mind wandering are robust, with older adults reporting less mind wandering compared to younger adults. While several theories have been put forth to explain this difference, one view has received less attention than others. Specifically, age-related differences in mind wandering might occur because older adults are reluctant to report on their mind wandering. The aim of the current study was to explicitly test this hypothesis. Older and younger adults completed a go/no-go task with intermittent thought probes to assess mind wandering. In one condition, participants were provided with standard instructions about how to respond to questions about their thoughts. In a second condition, participants were provided with a positive framing of mind wandering. Mind wandering was assessed both subjectively (i.e., via thought probes) and objectively (i.e., using different behavioral measures from the go/no-go task). The results of the study suggest that positively framing mind wandering did not impact rates of mind wandering or objective indicators of mind wandering for older or younger adults. Older adults reported less mind wandering, regardless of condition, compared to younger adults. Older adults also had generally better performance on the go/no-go task compared to younger adults. Bayesian analyses suggested that the main effect of framing condition, although not significant in Frequentist terms, did provide moderate evidence of an overall effect on mind wandering rates. We interpret the results as evidence against the reluctance hypothesis, consistent with previous work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Welhaf
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, CB 1125 One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130-4899, USA.
| | - Julie M Bugg
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, CB 1125 One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130-4899, USA
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6
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Mathews NK, Bin Faiz U, Brosowsky NP. How Do You Know If You Were Mind Wandering? Dissociating Explicit Memories of Off Task Thought From Subjective Feelings of Inattention. Open Mind (Camb) 2024; 8:666-687. [PMID: 38828433 PMCID: PMC11142633 DOI: 10.1162/opmi_a_00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Mind wandering is a common experience in which your attention drifts away from the task at hand and toward task-unrelated thoughts. To measure mind wandering we typically use experience sampling and retrospective self-reports, which require participants to make metacognitive judgments about their immediately preceding attentional states. In the current study, we aimed to better understand how people come to make such judgments by introducing a novel distinction between explicit memories of off task thought and subjective feelings of inattention. Across two preregistered experiments, we found that participants often indicated they were "off task" and yet had no memory of the content of their thoughts-though, they were less common than remembered experiences. Critically, remembered experiences of mind wandering and subjective feelings of inattention differed in their behavioral correlates. In Experiment 1, we found that only the frequency of remembered mind wandering varied with task demands. In contrast, only subjective feelings of inattention were associated with poor performance (Experiments 1 and 2) and individual differences in executive functioning (Experiment 2). These results suggest that the phenomenology of mind wandering may differ depending on how the experiences are brought about (e.g., executive functioning errors versus excess attentional resources), and provide preliminary evidence of the importance of measuring subjective feelings of inattention when assessing mind wandering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan K. Mathews
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Umer Bin Faiz
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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7
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Cheung RYM, Djekou L. Self-compassion and grit mediated the relation between mindfulness and mind wandering based on cross-sectional survey data. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9090. [PMID: 38643257 PMCID: PMC11032370 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58395-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous research suggests that mindfulness and mind wandering are opposing constructs. However, little is known about why and how they are negatively related. Through a process-oriented approach, this cross-sectional study tested self-compassion and grit as mediators for the relation between mindfulness and mind wandering. A total of 487 self-identified meditators were recruited from the UK (241 female, 49.49%). Participants reported a mean age of 38.98 years (SD = 10.03), with an average of 2.26 h of meditation practice per week (SD = 4.47). Upon informed consent, the participants completed a self-report questionnaire that assessed the core variables under study. Path analysis indicated that mindfulness was related to self-compassion. Greater self-compassion was, in turn, related to greater grit, which was then related to lower mind wandering. Bootstrapping analysis further indicated that self-compassion and grit as mediators between mindfulness and mind wandering, above and beyond age, gender, hours of meditation, income, and education as covariates. The cross-sectional findings provided initial evidence of mediation by showing that mindfulness and mind wandering were related through self-compassion and grit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Y M Cheung
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
| | - Lemuela Djekou
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
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8
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Bedi A, Russell PN, Helton WS. Response uncertainty influences response bias in the sustained attention to response task: a signal detection theory perspective. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2024; 88:81-90. [PMID: 37318596 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-023-01847-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the current investigation, we modified the high Go, low No-Go Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) by replacing the single response on Go trials with a dual response to increase response uncertainty. In three experiments, a total of 80 participants completed either the original SART with no response uncertainty regarding the Go stimuli, or versions of the dual response SART in which response probabilities for the two possible responses to the Go stimuli varied from 0.9-0.1, 0.7-0.3, to 0.5-0.5. This resulted in a scale of increasing response uncertainty based on information theory to the Go stimuli. The probability of No-Go withhold stimuli was kept.11 in all experiments. Using the Signal Detection Theory perspective proposed by Bedi et al. (Psychological Research: 1-10, 2022), we predicted that increasing response uncertainty would result in a conservative response bias shift, noted by decreased errors of commission and slower response times to both Go and No-Go stimuli. These predictions were verified. The errors of commission in the SART may not be a measures of conscious awareness per se, but instead indicative of the level of participant trigger happiness-the willingness to respond quickly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Bedi
- University of Canterbury, Chirstchurch, New Zealand
| | | | - William S Helton
- University of Canterbury, Chirstchurch, New Zealand.
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, 3F5, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA.
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9
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Soemer A, Gericke C, Schiefele U. Mind wandering may both promote and impair learning. Mem Cognit 2024; 52:373-389. [PMID: 37749477 PMCID: PMC10896859 DOI: 10.3758/s13421-023-01466-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The present investigation deals with individual differences in habitual (trait-level) mind wandering and their effects on learning. We hypothesized that the 'positive-constructive' type of habitual mind wandering would promote task-related thinking and the 'poor-attention' type to promote task-unrelated thinking. This hypothesis was tested in a study with 200 participants who rated different aspects of their mind wandering in daily life in one session and completed a reading study in a second session. The reading study included thought probes, retrospective questions about readers' thought contents, and comprehension tests after reading. In line with our hypothesis, data analysis revealed that some forms of positive-constructive mind wandering were positively associated with text-related thought, whereas poor-attention mind wandering was positively associated with text-unrelated thought. The present results add to the literature by emphasizing different types of trait-level mind wandering and their potentially opposite effects on learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Soemer
- Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Tübingen, Europastr. 6, 72072, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Christian Gericke
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schiefele
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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10
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Cotton K, Sandry J, Ricker TJ. The Effects of Mind-Wandering, Cognitive Load, and Task Engagement on Working Memory Performance in Remote Online Experiments. Exp Psychol 2024; 70:271-284. [PMID: 38288914 PMCID: PMC10915650 DOI: 10.1027/1618-3169/a000599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Recent changes in environments from in-person to remote present several issues for work, education, and research, particularly related to cognitive performance. Increased distraction in remote environments may lead to increases in mind-wandering and disengagement with tasks at hand, whether virtual meetings, online lectures, or psychological experiments. The present study investigated mind-wandering and multitasking effects during working memory tasks in remote and in-person environments. In two experiments, participants completed a working memory task with varied cognitive load during a secondary task. After each working memory trial, participants reported their mind-wandering during that trial. Some participants completed the procedures in-person, while others completed the procedures remotely. Overall, remote participants reported significantly more mind-wandering and poorer secondary task performance than in-person participants, but this pattern was not reflected in working memory accuracy. Both groups exhibited similar multitasking effects on performance. Additional analyses found that for remote participants, task engagement better predicted working memory performance than either cognitive load or mind-wandering rates but did not indicate a tradeoff in resources between tasks. Together, these results demonstrate the importance of considering multiple metrics when assessing performance and illustrate that making assumptions about the equivalence of remote and in-person work is a risky proposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Cotton
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Joshua Sandry
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
| | - Timothy J. Ricker
- Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA
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11
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Chaieb L, Fell J. Insights into the time course of mind wandering during task execution. Brain Res 2024; 1822:148618. [PMID: 37820849 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Our minds tend to wander, sometimes with little control. Despite this phenomenon, that can affect our ability to perform everyday tasks gaining much interest, relatively little is understood about the actual time course of MW across an experimental task. With this in mind, we collated data from two previously reported studies investigating the effect of auditory beat stimulation on MW. Taking experience sampling probes intermittently dispersed throughout a sustained-attention-to-response task (SART), we re-evaluated responses to theta monaural beat stimulation, as well as to two control conditions (silence (headphones only) and a sine wave control tone). The experience sampling probes were binned into shorter intervals of approximately five minutes duration, chronologically as they appeared within the paradigm. Experience sampling probes assayed whether MW had occurred, with or without meta-awareness, and lastly in which temporal orientation (past/present/future). By applying this somewhat temporally better resolved approach, we were able to examine the time course of attentional fluctuations related to MW during the execution of the SART, as well as interactions arising from the auditory beat stimulation. As anticipated, MW increased during task execution, most prominently at the beginning of the experiment. We also observed that levels of meta-awareness declined over time. Moreover, the temporal evolution of meta-awareness and past-orientation appeared to depend on the stimulation condition. These data demonstrate that time-on-task is a crucial factor in measuring MW, during the performance of an attentional task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Chaieb
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Juergen Fell
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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12
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Welhaf MS, Kane MJ. A combined experimental-correlational approach to the construct validity of performance-based and self-report-based measures of sustained attention. Atten Percept Psychophys 2024; 86:109-145. [PMID: 38012476 PMCID: PMC11134599 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-023-02786-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The ability to sustain attention is often measured with either objective performance indicators, like within-person RT variability, or subjective self-reports, like mind wandering propensity. A more construct valid approach, however, may be to assess the covariation in these performance and self-report measures, given that each of these is influenced by different sources of measurement error. If the correlation between performance-variability and self-report measures reflects the sustained attention construct, then task manipulations aimed at reducing the sustained attention demands of tasks should reduce the correlation between them (in addition to reducing mean levels of variability and mind wandering). The current study investigated this claim with a combined experimental-correlation approach. In two experiments (Ns ~ 1,500 each), participants completed tasks that either maximized or minimized the demand for sustained attention. Our demand manipulations successfully reduced the mean levels of sustained attention failures in both the objective and subjective measures, in both experiments. In neither experiment, however, did the covariation between these measures change as a function of the sustained attention demands of the tasks. We can therefore claim only minimal support for the construct validity of our measurement approach to sustained attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Welhaf
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA
| | - Michael J. Kane
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA
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13
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Martarelli CS, Ovalle-Fresa R. In sight, out of mind? Disengagement at encoding gradually reduces recall of location. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2024; 77:42-56. [PMID: 36803300 DOI: 10.1177/17470218231159656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Disengaging from the external world-a phenomenon referred to as mind wandering-is a common experience that has been shown to be associated with detriments in cognitive performance across a large range of tasks. In the current web-based study, we used a continuous delayed estimation paradigm to investigate the impact of task disengagement at encoding on subsequent recall of location. Task disengagement was assessed with thought probes on a dichotomous (off- vs. on-task) and a continuous response scale (from 0% to 100% on-task). This approach allowed us to consider perceptual decoupling in both a dichotomous and a graded manner. In the first study (n = 54), we found a negative relationship between levels of task disengagement at encoding and subsequent recall of location measured in degrees. This finding supports a graded perceptual decoupling process rather than a decoupling that happens in an all-or-none manner. In the second study (n = 104), we replicated this finding. An analysis of 22 participants showing enough off-task trials to fit the data with the standard mixture model revealed that in this particular subsample, being disengaged from the task at encoding was related to worse long-term memory performance in terms of likelihood to recall but not in terms of precision with which information is recalled. Overall, the findings suggest a graded nature of task disengagement that covaries with fine-grained differences in subsequent recall of location. Going forwards, it will be important to test the validity of continuous measures of mind-wandering.
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14
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Welhaf MS, Banks JB, Bugg JM. Age-Related Differences in Mind Wandering: The Role of Emotional Valence. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbad151. [PMID: 37813376 PMCID: PMC10745276 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Older adults consistently report fewer experiences of mind wandering compared to younger adults. Aging is also associated with a shift in the emotional focus of our thoughts, with older adults tending to experience an increase in attention toward positive information, or a "positivity bias," relative to younger adults. Here, we tested if the positivity bias associated with aging can also predict age-related changes in the content of older adults' mind wandering. METHOD Older adults and younger adults completed a go/no-go task with periodic thought probes to assess rates of emotionally valenced mind wandering. RESULTS Older adults reported significantly less negatively and neutrally valenced mind wandering compared to younger adults, but there was no age difference in reports of positively valenced mind wandering. Overall rates of mind wandering predicted poorer task performance for both age groups: Individuals who mind wandered more, performed worse, but this did not differ by the emotional valence. Both older adults and younger adults showed similar in-the-moment performance deficits, with mind wandering reports being associated with worse immediate no-go accuracy and faster reaction times, consistent with mindless responding. DISCUSSION Focusing on different dimensions of thought content, such as emotional valence, can provide new insight into age-related differences in mind wandering. Older adults' mind wandering reports were less negative and neutral compared to younger adults' reports suggesting a positivity bias for older adults. However, this positivity bias does not seem to affect task performance. We discuss the implications of the findings for mind wandering theories and the positivity bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Welhaf
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jonathan B Banks
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
| | - Julie M Bugg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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15
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Michel-Kröhler A, Wessa M, Berti S. Experimental induction of state rumination: A study evaluating the efficacy of goal-cueing task in different experimental settings. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288450. [PMID: 37992013 PMCID: PMC10664951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on previous studies, the present four experiments (total N = 468) aimed at investigating the effectivity of rumination induction in different experimental settings. We were particularly interested in rumination in the context of individual goal achievement and tested whether an instruction that referred to unresolved goals had a direct observable effect on state rumination. For this purpose, participants were asked to identify, evaluate, and focus on a personally relevant goal that was previously unresolved and still bothered them. In Experiment 1a to 1c, we compared three different modifications of the unresolved condition with shortened instructions with the elaborated unresolved condition and an additional control condition that did not refer to goals. In general, the results were mixed, but basically confirmed the effectiveness of the method used. Finally, in Experiment 2, we compared the two most promising versions of the unresolved condition and, by adding a goal-related control condition, we examined which control condition was best suited to maximize effects related to state rumination in future research. Results of various mixed ANOVAs demonstrated that a shortened version (in terms of shortened audio instructions) of the unresolved condition could be used as well as the original unresolved condition to induce reliable state rumination. The significance of the effects obtained with this method for real-life applications as well as approaches for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Michel-Kröhler
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Institute for Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michèle Wessa
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Institute for Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Berti
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Institute for Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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16
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Aitken JA, Pagan O, Wong CM, Bayley B, Helton WS, Kaplan SA. Task-related and task-unrelated thoughts in runners and equestrians: Measurement issues in evaluations of thought content. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 110:104011. [PMID: 36905727 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Much of the thought content and mind-wandering literature examines self-reported thought content's relationship with performance criteria in limited ways. Furthermore, retrospective reports about thought content may be influenced by the quality of one's performance. We explored these method issues in a cross-sectional study of individuals competing in a trail race and an equestrian event. Our results demonstrated that self-reports of thought content differed based on the performance context: whereas runners' task-related and task-unrelated thoughts were negatively correlated, equestrians' thought content showed no relationship. Moreover, equestrians in general reported fewer task-related and task-unrelated thoughts than runners. Finally, objective performance predicted task-unrelated thought (but not task-related thought) among runners, and an exploratory mediation test suggested the effect was partially mediated by performance awareness. We discuss the applied implications of this research for human performance practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Aitken
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, USA.
| | - Olivia Pagan
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, USA
| | - Carol M Wong
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, USA
| | - Brooke Bayley
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, USA
| | | | - Seth A Kaplan
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, USA
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17
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Wong YS, Pat N, Machado L. Commonalities between mind wandering and task-set switching: An event-related potential study. Neuropsychologia 2023; 185:108585. [PMID: 37169065 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has established that mind wandering does not necessarily disrupt one's task-switching performance. Here we investigated the effects of mind wandering on electrophysiological signatures, measured using event-related potentials (ERPs), during a switching task. In the current study, a final sample of 22 young adults performed a task-switching paradigm while electroencephalography was continuously recorded; mind wandering was assessed via thought probes at the end of each block. Consistent with previous research, we found no significant disruptive effects of mind wandering on task-switching performance. The ERP results showed that at the posterior electrode sites (P3, Pz, and P4), P3 amplitude was higher for mind-wandering switch trials than on-task switch trials, thus opposing the typical pattern of P3 attenuation during periods of mind wandering relative to on-task episodes. Considering that increased P3 amplitude during higher-order switch trials (e.g., response rule switching) may reflect the implementation of new higher-order task sets/rules, the current findings seem to indicate similar executive control processes underlie mind wandering and task-set switching, providing further evidence in favor of a role for switching in mind wandering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Sheng Wong
- Department of Psychology and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Research New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Narun Pat
- Department of Psychology and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Liana Machado
- Department of Psychology and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Research New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
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18
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Kaushik P, Yang H, Roy PP, van Vugt M. Comparing resting state and task-based EEG using machine learning to predict vulnerability to depression in a non-clinical population. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7467. [PMID: 37156879 PMCID: PMC10167316 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34298-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects a large portion of the population and levies a huge societal burden. It has serious consequences like decreased productivity and reduced quality of life, hence there is considerable interest in understanding and predicting it. As it is a mental disorder, neural measures like EEG are used to study and understand its underlying mechanisms. However most of these studies have either explored resting state EEG (rs-EEG) data or task-based EEG data but not both, we seek to compare their respective efficacy. We work with data from non-clinically depressed individuals who score higher and lower on the depression scale and hence are more and less vulnerable to depression, respectively. Forty participants volunteered for the study. Questionnaires and EEG data were collected from participants. We found that people who are more vulnerable to depression had on average increased EEG amplitude in the left frontal channel, and decreased amplitude in the right frontal and occipital channels for raw data (rs-EEG). Task-based EEG data from a sustained attention to response task used to measure spontaneous thinking, an increased EEG amplitude in the central part of the brain for individuals with low vulnerability and an increased EEG amplitude in right temporal, occipital and parietal regions in individuals more vulnerable to depression were found. In an attempt to predict vulnerability (high/low) to depression, we found that a Long Short Term Memory model gave the maximum accuracy of 91.42% in delta wave for task-based data whereas 1D-Convolution neural network gave the maximum accuracy of 98.06% corresponding to raw rs-EEG data. Hence if one has to look at the primary question of which data will be good for predicting vulnerability to depression, rs-EEG seems to be better than task-based EEG data. However, if mechanisms driving depression like rumination or stickiness are to be understood, task-based data may be more effective. Furthermore, as there is no consensus as to which biomarker of rs-EEG is more effective in the detection of MDD, we also experimented with evolutionary algorithms to find the most informative subset of these biomarkers. Higuchi fractal dimension, phase lag index, correlation and coherence features were also found to be the most important features for predicting vulnerability to depression using rs-EEG. These findings bring up new possibilities for EEG-based machine/deep learning diagnostics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Kaushik
- Bernoulli Institute of Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 9, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India.
| | - Hang Yang
- Bernoulli Institute of Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 9, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Partha Pratim Roy
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India
| | - Marieke van Vugt
- Bernoulli Institute of Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 9, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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19
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Bedi A, Russell PN, Helton WS. Go-stimuli probability influences response bias in the sustained attention to response task: a signal detection theory perspective. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:509-518. [PMID: 35403969 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01679-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The sustained attention to response task (SART) is a popular measure in the psychology and neuroscience of attention. The underlying psychological cause for errors, in particular errors of commission, in the SART is actively disputed. Some researchers have suggested task-disengagement due to mind-wandering or mindlessness, and others have proposed strategic choices. In this study we explored an alternative perspective based on Signal Detection Theory, in which the high rate of commission errors in the SART reflects simply a shift in response bias (criterion) due to the high prevalence of Go-stimuli. We randomly assigned 406 participants to one of ten Go-stimuli prevalence rates (50%, 64%, 74%, 78%, 82%, 86%, 90%, 94%, 98% and 100%). As Go-stimuli prevalence increased reaction times to both Go and No-Go stimuli decreased, omission errors decreased and commission errors increased. These all were predicted from a hypothesized bias shift, but the findings were not compatible with some alternative theories of SART performance. These findings may have implications for similar tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Bedi
- University of Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | | | - William S Helton
- University of Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand.
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, 3F5, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA.
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20
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Yip JM, Jodoin NM, Handy TC. Dimensions of inattention: Cognitive, behavioral, and affective consequences. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1075953. [PMID: 36925597 PMCID: PMC10011159 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1075953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Inattention to one's on-going task leads to well-documented cognitive, behavioral, and physiological consequences. At the same time, the reliable association between mind-wandering and negative mood has suggested that there are affective consequences to task inattention as well. We examined this potential relationship between inattention and mood in the following study. Six hundred and fifty-five participants completed self-report questionnaires related to inattentive thinking (i.e., attentional lapses, daydreaming, mindfulness, rumination, reflection, worry, postevent processing, inattentiveness, and counterfactual thinking), a questionnaire about depressive symptoms, and a questionnaire about anxiety symptoms. First, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify potential underlying constructs of types of inattentive thinking. Using ordinary least squares extraction and Oblimin rotation, a three-factor model demonstrated suitable fit, broadly representing mind-wandering/inattentive consequences, repetitive negative thinking, and reflective/introspective thinking. Second, after eliminating measures that did not strongly load on any factor, structural equation modeling was conducted and found that the relationship between mind-wandering and depression was partially explained by repetitive negative thinking, whereas the relationship between mind-wandering and anxiety was fully explained by repetitive negative thinking. The present findings suggest that understanding how inattentive thoughts are interrelated not only influences mood and affect but also reveals important considerations of intentionality, executive functioning, and qualitative styles of these thoughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Yip
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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21
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Kawashima I, Hinuma T, Tanaka SC. Ecological momentary assessment of mind-wandering: meta-analysis and systematic review. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2873. [PMID: 36801931 PMCID: PMC9938857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29854-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mind-wandering (MW) is a universal human phenomenon and revealing its nature contributes to understanding consciousness. The ecological momentary assessment (EMA), in which subjects report a momentary mental state, is a suitable method to investigate MW in a natural environment. Previous studies employed EMA to study MW and attempted to answer the most fundamental question: How often do we let our minds wander? However, reported MW occupancies vary widely among studies. Further, while some experimental settings may induce bias in MW reports, these designs have not been explored. Therefore, we searched PubMed and Web of Science for articles published until the end of 2020 and systematically reviewed 25 articles, and performed meta-analyses on 17 of them. Our meta-analysis found that people spend 34.504% of daily life in mind-wandering, and meta-regression revealed that using subject smartphones for EMA, frequent sampling, and long experimental duration significantly affect MW reports. This result indicates that EMA using subject smartphones may tend to collect sampling under habitual smartphone use. Furthermore, these results indicate the existence of reactivity, even in MW research. We provide fundamental knowledge of MW and discuss rough standards for EMA settings in future MW studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issaku Kawashima
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Tomoko Hinuma
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), Kyoto, Japan
| | - Saori C Tanaka
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), Kyoto, Japan.
- Division of Information Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan.
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22
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Coexistence of thought types as an attentional state during a sustained attention task. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1581. [PMID: 36709372 PMCID: PMC9884194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28690-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Some studies have asked participants about attentional state on a scale from on-task to off-task, which set the middle option as attention focused on both, including the possibility of the coexistence of thoughts. In addition, studies using multidimensional probes explicitly assumed coexistence within spontaneous thoughts and task-focus dimensions. Although several studies have assumed the coexistence of some thought dimensions, none has explored whether these are different types of thoughts (task-focus, mind-wandering, task-related, external stimuli-related). To examine whether this coexistence of thought types occurred, we used thought probes to determine the degree of immersion in each. The participants responded to probes presented at random during a sustained attention task. The results revealed a mixture of thought types in many self-reports. In addition, the state of attentional allocation behind self-reports was estimated using the hidden Markov model. We observed the following attentional states: task-focused, task-unrelated, task-related, external stimuli-focused, and task-focused-but also focused on other thoughts. These results suggest that individuals can simultaneously allocate attention to thought types and discriminate between reporting. In some cases, probe options should also be considered for this coexistence. We also examined the relationship between self-reports and behavioral indexes, and discussed the necessity of separately measuring the degree of immersion for each thought type.
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23
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Perquin MN, van Vugt MK, Hedge C, Bompas A. Temporal Structure in Sensorimotor Variability: A Stable Trait, But What For? COMPUTATIONAL BRAIN & BEHAVIOR 2023; 6:1-38. [PMID: 36618326 PMCID: PMC9810256 DOI: 10.1007/s42113-022-00162-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Human performance shows substantial endogenous variability over time, and this variability is a robust marker of individual differences. Of growing interest to psychologists is the realisation that variability is not fully random, but often exhibits temporal dependencies. However, their measurement and interpretation come with several controversies. Furthermore, their potential benefit for studying individual differences in healthy and clinical populations remains unclear. Here, we gather new and archival datasets featuring 11 sensorimotor and cognitive tasks across 526 participants, to examine individual differences in temporal structures. We first investigate intra-individual repeatability of the most common measures of temporal structures - to test their potential for capturing stable individual differences. Secondly, we examine inter-individual differences in these measures using: (1) task performance assessed from the same data, (2) meta-cognitive ratings of on-taskness from thought probes occasionally presented throughout the task, and (3) self-assessed attention-deficit related traits. Across all datasets, autocorrelation at lag 1 and Power Spectra Density slope showed high intra-individual repeatability across sessions and correlated with task performance. The Detrended Fluctuation Analysis slope showed the same pattern, but less reliably. The long-term component (d) of the ARFIMA(1,d,1) model showed poor repeatability and no correlation to performance. Overall, these measures failed to show external validity when correlated with either mean subjective attentional state or self-assessed traits between participants. Thus, some measures of serial dependencies may be stable individual traits, but their usefulness in capturing individual differences in other constructs typically associated with variability in performance seems limited. We conclude with comprehensive recommendations for researchers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42113-022-00162-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlou Nadine Perquin
- Biopsychology & Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marieke K. van Vugt
- Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Craig Hedge
- School of Psychology, College of Health & Life Sciences, Aston University, Aston, UK
| | - Aline Bompas
- CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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24
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Marcusson-Clavertz D, Persson SD, Davidson P, Kim J, Cardeña E, Kuehner C. Mind wandering and sleep in daily life: A combined actigraphy and experience sampling study. Conscious Cogn 2023; 107:103447. [PMID: 36469956 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2022.103447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Individuals who sleep poorly report spending more time mind wandering during the day. However, past research has relied on self-report measures of sleep or measured mind wandering during laboratory tasks, which prevents generalization to everyday contexts. We used ambulatory assessments to examine the relations between several features of sleep (duration, fragmentation, and disturbances) and mind wandering (task-unrelated, stimulus-independent, and unguided thoughts). Participants wore a wristband device that collected actigraphy and experience-sampling data across 7 days and 8 nights. Contrary to our expectations, task-unrelated and stimulus-independent thoughts were not associated with sleep either within- or between-persons (n = 164). Instead, individual differences in unguided thoughts were associated with sleep disturbances and duration, suggesting that individuals who more often experience unguided train-of-thoughts have greater sleep disturbances and sleep longer. These results highlight the need to consider the context and features of mind wandering when relating it to sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Marcusson-Clavertz
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Box 213, 221 00 Lund, Sweden; Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Hus L, Trummenvägen 11, 351 95 Växjö, Sweden.
| | - Stefan D Persson
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Box 213, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Per Davidson
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Box 213, 221 00 Lund, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, CNY 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, CNY 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jinhyuk Kim
- Department of Informatics, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011, Japan
| | - Etzel Cardeña
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Box 213, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Christine Kuehner
- Research Group Longitudinal and Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Square J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
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25
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Welhaf MS, Meier ME, Smeekens BA, Silvia PJ, Kwapil TR, Kane MJ. A "Goldilocks zone" for mind-wandering reports? A secondary data analysis of how few thought probes are enough for reliable and valid measurement. Behav Res Methods 2023; 55:327-347. [PMID: 35381956 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-021-01766-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Mind-wandering assessment relies heavily on the thought probe technique as a reliable and valid method to assess momentary task-unrelated thought (TUT), but there is little guidance available to help researchers decide how many probes to include within a task. Too few probes may lead to unreliable measurement, but too many probes might artificially disrupt normal thought flow and produce reactive effects. Is there a "Goldilocks zone" for how few thought probes can be used to reliably and validly assess individual differences in mind-wandering propensity? We address this question by reanalyzing two published datasets (Study 1, n = 541; Study 2, ns ≈ 260 per condition) in which thought probes were presented in multiple tasks. Our primary analyses randomly sampled probes in increments of two for each subject in each task. A series of confirmatory factor analyses for each probe "bin" size tested whether the latent correlations between TUT rate and theoretically relevant constructs like working memory capacity, attention-control ability, disorganized schizotypy, and retrospective self-reported mind wandering changed as more probes assessed the TUT rate. TUT rates were remarkably similar across increasing probe-bin sizes and zero-order correlations within and between tasks stabilized at 8-10 probes; moreover, TUT-rate correlations with other latent variables stabilized at about 8 thought probes. Our provisional recommendation (with caveats) is that researchers may use as few as 8 thought probes in prototypical cognitive tasks to gain reliable and valid information about individual differences in TUT rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Welhaf
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA.
| | | | | | - Paul J Silvia
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA
| | - Thomas R Kwapil
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Michael J Kane
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA.
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26
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Hart CM, Mills C, Thiemann RF, Andrews-Hanna JR, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Kam JWY. Task-unrelated thought increases after consumption of COVID-19 and general news. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2022; 7:69. [PMID: 35876968 PMCID: PMC9309453 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-022-00420-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs) are frequent distractions from our everyday tasks, which can reduce productivity and safety during task performance. This necessitates the examination of factors that modulate TUT occurrence in daily life. One factor that has previously been implicated as a source of TUT is personally salient concerns. External factors such as news media serve as cues for these concerns, potentially increasing TUT occurrence. However, this has not been thoroughly examined in everyday life settings. We thus utilized Ecological Momentary Assessment to survey participants throughout the day for ten days, on their TUTs and news consumption in two separate studies. Study 1 focused on the impact of news related to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as a common and global concern. We found that TUT occurrence was significantly predicted by COVID-19 news consumption, such that TUT occurrence increased with COVID-19 news consumption. To extend these findings, we implemented Study 2 using similar methods, but focusing on the consumption of news media in general. TUT occurrence was predicted by general news consumption, with an increase in reports of TUT following consumption of news media in general. We thus extended the association found between TUT and COVID-19-related news in Study 1, to any news topic in Study 2. We speculate that the increase in TUTs was due to heightened salience of current concerns, cued by the news. These findings highlight the importance of considering when we choose to consume news media and the value of examining contextual factors when studying TUTs in daily life.
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27
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Kuvar V, Blanchard N, Colby A, Allen L, Mills C. Automatically detecting task-unrelated thoughts during conversations using keystroke analysis. USER MODELING AND USER-ADAPTED INTERACTION 2022; 33:617-641. [PMID: 36033235 PMCID: PMC9390119 DOI: 10.1007/s11257-022-09340-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Task-unrelated thought (TUT), commonly referred to as mind wandering, is a mental state where a person's attention moves away from the task-at-hand. This state is extremely common, yet not much is known about how to measure it, especially during dyadic interactions. We thus built a model to detect when a person experiences TUTs while talking to another person through a computer-mediated conversation, using their keystroke patterns. The best model was able to differentiate between task-unrelated thoughts and task-related thoughts with a kappa of 0.363, using features extracted from a 15 second window. We also present a feature analysis to provide additional insights into how various typing behaviors can be linked to our ongoing mental states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Kuvar
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA
| | | | | | - Laura Allen
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA
| | - Caitlin Mills
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA
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28
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Moorthy KK, Dixon P. Mind wandering and contextual binding. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2022.2097248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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29
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Self-reported mind wandering reflects executive control and selective attention. Psychon Bull Rev 2022; 29:2167-2180. [PMID: 35672655 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-022-02110-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Mind wandering is ubiquitous in everyday life and has a pervasive and profound impact on task-related performance. A range of psychological processes have been proposed to underlie these performance-related decrements, including failures of executive control, volatile information processing, and shortcomings in selective attention to critical task-relevant stimuli. Despite progress in the development of such theories, existing descriptive analyses have limited capacity to discriminate between the theories. We propose a cognitive-model based analysis that simultaneously explains self-reported mind wandering and task performance. We quantitatively compare six explanations of poor performance in the presence of mind wandering. The competing theories are distinguished by whether there is an impact on executive control and, if so, how executive control acts on information processing, and whether there is an impact on volatility of information processing. Across two experiments using the sustained attention to response task, we find quantitative evidence that mind wandering is associated with two latent factors. Our strongest conclusion is that executive control is impaired: increased mind wandering is associated with reduced ability to inhibit habitual response tendencies. Our nuanced conclusion is that executive control deficits manifest in reduced ability to selectively attend to the information value of rare but task-critical events.
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Patience is a virtue: Individual differences in cue-evoked pupil responses under temporal certainty. Atten Percept Psychophys 2022; 84:1286-1303. [PMID: 35396616 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-022-02482-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Attention control is often examined behaviorally by measuring task performance and self-reported mind wandering. However, recent studies have also used pupillometry to measure task engagement versus task disengagement/mind wandering. In the current study, we investigated participants' ability to engage versus relax attention control in anticipation of hard (antisaccade) versus easy (prosaccade) trials within a saccade task, creating a "Cue-Evoked" Pupillary Response (CEPR). Participants completed the Automated OSPAN as a measure of working memory capacity (WMC) followed by a saccade task with a constant 5,000 ms delay between cue and stimulus. Occasional thought probes were included to gauge on- versus off-task attentional state. Consistent with recent findings (Hutchison et al., 2020, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 46, 280-295; Wang et al., 2015, European Journal of Neuroscience, 41, 1102-1110), we found better performance and more Task-Unrelated Thoughts (TUTs) on prosaccade trials, larger pupil diameters when preparing for antisaccade trials, and larger pupil diameters when on-task. Further, lower WMC individuals showed pupil dilation throughout the fixation delay for both types of trials, whereas higher WMC individuals only showed dilation immediately before stimulus onset when expecting an antisaccade trial. Saccade accuracy was predicted by WMC, smaller early CEPR, larger late CEPR, and less CEPR variability, but not self-reported TUTs. These findings demonstrate that, under temporal certainty, higher WMC individuals may be more efficient in their exertion of attention control. Further, they indicate that physiological measures can not only validate self-report measures, but also help identify situations in which self-report may be inaccurate.
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The link between mind wandering and learning in children. J Exp Child Psychol 2022; 217:105367. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2021.105367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Marcusson-Clavertz D, Persson SD, Cardeña E, Terhune DB, Gort C, Kuehner C. The contribution of latent factors of executive functioning to mind wandering: an experience sampling study. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2022; 7:34. [PMID: 35467232 PMCID: PMC9038971 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-022-00383-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that individuals with greater executive resources spend less time mind wandering. Independent strands of research further suggest that this association depends on concentration and a guilty-dysphoric daydreaming style. However, it remains unclear whether this association is specific to particular features of executive functioning or certain operationalizations of mind wandering, including task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs, comprising external distractions and mind wandering) and stimulus-independent and task-unrelated thoughts (SITUTs, comprising mind wandering only). This study sought to clarify these associations by using confirmatory factor analysis to compute latent scores for distinct executive functions based on nine cognitive tasks and relating them to experience sampling reports of mind wandering. We expected that individuals with greater executive control (specifically updating) would show a stronger reduction in SITUTs as momentary concentration and guilty-dysphoric style increase. A bifactor model of the cognitive battery indicated a general factor (common executive functioning) and ancillary factors (updating and shifting). A significant interaction between updating and concentration on mind wandering was observed with mind wandering defined as TUTs, but not as SITUTs (N = 187). A post hoc analysis clarified this discrepancy by showing that as concentration increases, both external distractions and mind wandering decrease more strongly among people with greater updating. Moreover, common executive functioning predicted a more negative slope of guilty-dysphoric style on SITUTs, whereas updating and shifting predicted more positive slopes. The opposite slopes of these executive functions on daily life mind wandering may reflect a stability-flexibility trade-off between goal maintenance and goal replacement abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Marcusson-Clavertz
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Hus L, Trummenvägen 11, 351 95, Växjö, Sweden.
- CERCAP, Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | | | - Etzel Cardeña
- CERCAP, Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Devin B Terhune
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Cassandra Gort
- Research Group Longitudinal and Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christine Kuehner
- Research Group Longitudinal and Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
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Welhaf MS, Phillips NE, Smeekens BA, Miyake A, Kane MJ. Interpolated testing and content pretesting as interventions to reduce task-unrelated thoughts during a video lecture. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2022; 7:26. [PMID: 35348931 PMCID: PMC8964911 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-022-00372-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Considerable research has examined the prevalence and apparent consequences of task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs) in both laboratory and authentic educational settings. Few studies, however, have explored methods to reduce TUTs during learning; those few studies tested small samples or used unvalidated TUT assessments. The present experimental study attempted to conceptually replicate or extend previous findings of interpolated testing and pretesting effects on TUT and learning. In a study of 195 U.S. undergraduates, we investigated whether interpolated testing (compared to interpolated restudy) and pretesting on lecture-relevant materials (compared to pretesting on conceptually related but lecture-irrelevant materials) would reduce TUTs during a video lecture on introductory statistics. Subjects completed either a content-matched or content-mismatched pretest on statistics concepts and then watched a narrated lecture slideshow. During the lecture, half of the sample completed interpolated tests on the lecture material and half completed interpolated restudy of that material. All subjects responded to unpredictably presented thought probes during the video to assess their immediately preceding thoughts, including TUTs. Following the lecture, students reported on their situational interest elicited by the lecture and then completed a posttest. Interpolated testing significantly reduced TUT rates during the lecture compared to restudying, conceptually replicating previous findings-but with a small effect size and no supporting Bayes-factor evidence. We found statistical evidence for neither an interpolated testing effect on learning, nor an effect of matched-content pretesting on TUT rates or learning. Interpolated testing might have limited utility to support students' attention, but varying effect sizes across studies warrants further work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Welhaf
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Natalie E Phillips
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Bridget A Smeekens
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Akira Miyake
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael J Kane
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA.
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Randall JG, Hanson MD, Nassrelgrgawi AS. Staying focused when nobody is watching: Self‐regulatory strategies to reduce mind wandering during self‐directed learning. APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY-AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW-PSYCHOLOGIE APPLIQUEE-REVUE INTERNATIONALE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/apps.12366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Individual differences in dimensions of mind wandering: the mediating role of emotional valence and intentionality. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2021; 86:1495-1517. [PMID: 34462904 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-021-01579-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Individual differences in executive control ability reliably show that those with greater executive control report fewer instances of mind wandering during moderately demanding tasks. However, these findings have been limited in that they often treated mind wandering as a variable that collapsed across a variety of thought categories or dimensions. We suggest that two dimensions of mind wandering, intentionality and emotional valence, may be differential related to individual difference in executive control ability. The present study examined this using multiple measures of working memory capacity and attentional control while measuring emotional valence and intentionality of mind wandering during a single sustained attention task. Non-cognitive predictors of mind wandering were also measured. Overall, the results suggest that both working memory capacity and attention control are significant predictors of mind wandering propensity, replicating previous findings. However, the dimensions of emotional valence and intentionality suggested that this finding was not consistent across all types of thought reports. The current findings provide support for the view that it is critical to consider these two dimensions, among other important dimensions, of mind wandering to have a more complete understanding of individual differences in mind wandering.
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Kane MJ, Carruth NP, Lurquin JH, Silvia PJ, Smeekens BA, von Bastian CC, Miyake A. Individual differences in task-unrelated thought in university classrooms. Mem Cognit 2021; 49:1247-1266. [PMID: 33890247 PMCID: PMC8313470 DOI: 10.3758/s13421-021-01156-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated what academic traits, attitudes, and habits predict individual differences in task-unrelated thought (TUT) during lectures, and whether this TUT propensity mediates associations between academic individual differences and course outcomes (final grade and situational interest evoked by material). Undergraduates (N = 851) from ten psychology classes at two US universities responded to thought probes presented during two early-course lectures; they also indicated sitting in the front, middle, or back of the classroom. At each probe, students categorized their thought content, such as indicating on-task thought or TUT. Students also completed online, academic-self-report questionnaires at the beginning of the course and a situational interest questionnaire at the end. Average TUT rate was 24% but individuals' rates varied widely (SD = 18%). TUT rates also increased substantially from the front to back of the classroom, and modestly from the first to second half of class periods. Multiple-group analyses (with ten classroom groups) indicated that: (a) classroom media-multitasking habits, initial interest in the course topic, and everyday propensity for mind-wandering and boredom accounted for unique variance in TUT rate (beyond other predictors); (b) TUT rate accounted for unique (modest) variance in course grades and situational interest; and (c) classroom media multitasking and propensity for mind-wandering and boredom had indirect associations with course grades via TUT rate, and these predictor variables, along with initial interest, had indirect associations with end-of-term situational interest via TUT rate. Some academic traits and behaviors predict course outcomes in part because they predict off-task thought during class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Kane
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA.
| | - Nicholas P Carruth
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 345 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309-0345, USA
| | - John H Lurquin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 345 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309-0345, USA
| | - Paul J Silvia
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Bridget A Smeekens
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Claudia C von Bastian
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Akira Miyake
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 345 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309-0345, USA.
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Nicosia J, Balota D. Dispositional factors account for age differences in self-reported mind-wandering. Psychol Aging 2021; 36:421-432. [PMID: 34124919 PMCID: PMC8352371 DOI: 10.1037/pag0000614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated the contribution of dispositional factors in accounting for the perplexing negative relationship between aging and mind-wandering (MW). First, we sought to examine whether experimentally manipulating participants' motivation during a modified Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) would modulate sustained attention performance and MW reports for younger and older adults. Results indicated that a performance-based motivational incentive influenced self-reported motivation and objective measures of sustained attention performance for younger, but not older, adults as compared to a control block. However, the motivation manipulation did not significantly modulate either younger or older adults' MW reports. Second, we tested the unique contributions of conscientiousness, interest, and motivation in predicting state-level, trait-level, and SART MW reports along with a composite measure of all three predictors. The results from a series of mediation and regression analyses indicated (a) that conscientiousness and interest fully accounted for the relationship between age and four different self-reported MW estimates and (b) that self-reported motivation did not account for any unique variance in predicting MW reports above and beyond age. The dispositional factors also accounted for the observed differences in No-Go accuracy but did not fully account for the age differences in the coefficient of variation. Discussion focuses on distinctions between self-report and objective measures of MW and more general implications of considering dispositional factors in cognitive aging research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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