scholarly journals Temporal changes in attentional resources consumed by mind-wandering that precede awareness: An ERP study

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 100060
Author(s):  
Kazushi Shinagawa ◽  
Yuichi Ito ◽  
Koki Tsuji ◽  
Yuto Tanaka ◽  
Mana Odaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Attentional Resources

The impact of state and dispositional mindfulness on prospective memory: a virtual reality study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Charles Girardeau ◽  
Philippe Blondé ◽  
Dominique Makowski ◽  
Maria Abram ◽  
Pascale Piolino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Dispositional Mindfulness ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Natural Tendency ◽  
Dispositional Trait ◽  
Main Observation ◽  
Mindfulness Facets ◽  
Event Based ◽  
The Impact

Objectives. Prospective memory (PM) consists of remembering to perform an action that was previously planned. The recovery and execution of these actions require attentional resources. Mindfulness, as a state or a dispositional trait, has been associated with better attentional abilities. In this study, we investigated the impact of mindfulness on PM. Methods. Eighty participants learned 15 cue-action associations. They were, then, asked to recall the actions at certain moments (time-based items) or places (event-based items) during a walk in a virtual town. Before the PM task, participants were randomly assigned to a mindfulness or mind-wandering (control condition) session. Dispositional mindfulness was measured via the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Results. We found no difference between the two groups in the PM scores. Nevertheless, the natural tendency to describe one's own sensations (the Describing facet of the FFMQ) predicted time-based performance in both groups. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the link between mindfulness and PM. We did not report any effect of a short mindfulness session, compared to mind-wandering, on PM. We discuss different hypotheses to explain this finding. Our main observation is a positive link between the Describing facet and time-based PM performances. We propose that this link could be due to the common association of this mindfulness facets and PM with attentional and interoceptive abilities. Additional studies are needed to explore this hypothesis.

scholarly journals Propensity to intentional and unintentional mind-wandering differs in arousal and executive vigilance tasks

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258734
Author(s):  
Víctor Martínez-Pérez ◽  
Damián Baños ◽  
Almudena Andreu ◽  
Miriam Tortajada ◽  
Lucía B. Palmero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Resource Control ◽  
Time On Task ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Task Execution ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Response Task ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance

We typically observe a decrement in vigilance with time-on-task, which favors the propensity for mind-wandering, i.e., the shifting of attention from the task at hand to task-unrelated thoughts. Here, we examined participants’ mind-wandering, either intentional or unintentional, while performing vigilance tasks that tap different components of vigilance. Intentional mind-wandering is expected mainly when the arousal component is involved, whereas unintentional mind-wandering is expected mainly in tasks involving the executive component. The Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) assessed the arousal component, whereas the Sustained Attention to Response task (SART) assessed the executive component of vigilance. The two types of mind-wandering were probed throughout task execution. The results showed that the overall rate of mind-wandering was higher in the PVT than in the SART. Intentional mind-wandering was higher with the PVT than with the SART, whereas unintentional mind-wandering was higher with the SART than with the PVT. Regarding mind-wandering as a function of vigilance decrement with time-on-task, unintentional mind-wandering in the PVT increased between blocks 1 and 2 and then stabilized, whereas a progressive increase was observed in the SART. Regarding intentional mind-wandering, a progressive increase was only observed in the SART. The differential patterns of intentional and unintentional mind-wandering in both tasks suggest that, intentional mind wandering occurs mainly in arousal tasks in which propensity to mind-wander has little impact on task performance. However, unintentional mind-wandering occurs mainly in executive tasks as a result of a failure of cognitive control, which promotes attentional resources to be diverted toward mind-wandering. These results are discussed in the context of the resource-control model of mind-wandering.

Propensity to intentional and unintentional mind-wandering differ in arousal and executive vigilance tasks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Martínez-Pérez ◽  
Damián Baños ◽  
Almudena Andreu ◽  
Miriam Tortajada ◽  
Lucia Beatriz Palmero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Control ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Control Model ◽  
Resource Control ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Task Execution ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Response Task ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance

Background: The current study examined people’s propensity to mind wander when they perform vigilance tasks that tap different components of vigilance, namely arousal or executive. We suggest that the propensity to mind-wander may occur not only spontaneously (unintentional), but also deliberately (intentional) and that this distinction may have considerable theoretical implications. Thus, while intentional mind-wandering could arise from a lack of motivation and monotonicity of the task, unintentional mind-wandering could be driven mainly by a failure of executive control. Methods: Participants performed the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) to assess the arousal component of vigilance, and the Sustained Attention to Response task (SART) to assess the executive component of vigilance. Two types of mind wandering were probed throughout the task execution, intentional and unintentional. Results: The rates of overall mind-wandering were greater for the PVT than for the SART. Although there was greater propensity to develop unintentional than intentional mind-wandering in both tasks, propensity to intentional mind-wandering was higher with the PVT than with the SART, whereas the ratio of unintentional mind-wandering was higher with the SART than with the PVT. Finally, regarding unintentional mind wandering, in the PVT, the most pronounced increment occurred between blocks 1 and 2, and thereafter it stabilized. In the SART, a rather progressive increment was observed as the task progressed. Regarding intentional mind wandering, progressive increment was observed mainly in the SART.Conclusions: The differential patterns of intentional and unintentional mind wandering as a function of task suggest that, intentional mind wandering occurs mainly in monotonous tasks where propensity to mind wander has little impact on task performance. However, unintentional mind wandering is the result of a failure to keep control on the primary executive task and therefore attentional resources deviate to mind wander, the default mode. These results support and extend the Thompson et al.’s (2015) resource-control model.

Vigilance and Fatigue

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1563-1568
Author(s):  
Jesse Eisert ◽  
Francesco Di Nocera ◽  
Carryl Baldwin ◽  
John Lee ◽  
J. Stephen Higgins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Theoretical Ground ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Cognitive States

Many everyday tasks, such as driving and reading technical reports, require sustained attention. These tasks may deplete attentional resources and/or lead to mind wandering, boredom and fatigue – cognitive states that result in impaired performance. Numerous competing theories exist to explain these performance decrements. In this panel, we will examine perspectives from both the fatigue and vigilance literatures, identifying points of common ground and differences in an attempt to further understand the underpinnings of performance decrements in tasks that require sustained attention. Experts in the interrelated yet frequently viewed as disparate areas of fatigue and vigilance are brought together to forge new theoretical ground.

scholarly journals Mind-wandering, or the allocation of attentional resources, is sleep-driven across childhood

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Spruyt ◽  
Vania Herbillon ◽  
Benjamin Putois ◽  
Patricia Franco ◽  
Jean-Philippe Lachaux
Keyword(s):  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Attentional Resources

Mind Wandering and the Adaptive Control of Attentional Resources

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 952-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia W. Y. Kam ◽  
Elizabeth Dao ◽  
Maria Stanciulescu ◽  
Hamish Tildesley ◽  
Todd C. Handy
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Transient State ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Attentional Orienting ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Sensory Environment ◽  
Current Task ◽  
Traditional Performance

Mind wandering is a natural, transient state wherein our neurocognitive systems become temporarily decoupled from the external sensory environment as our thoughts drift away from the current task at hand. Yet despite the ubiquity of mind wandering in everyday human life, we rarely seem impaired in our ability to adaptively respond to the external environment when mind wandering. This suggests that despite widespread neurocognitive decoupling during mind wandering states, we may nevertheless retain some capacity to attentionally monitor external events. But what specific capacities? In Experiment 1, using traditional performance measures, we found that both volitional and automatic forms of visual–spatial attentional orienting were significantly attenuated when mind wandering. In Experiment 2, however, ERPs revealed that, during mind wandering states, there was a relative preservation of sensitivity to deviant or unexpected sensory events, as measured via the auditory N1 component. Taken together, our findings suggest that, although some selective attentional processes may be subject to down-regulation during mind wandering, we may adaptively compensate for these neurocognitively decoupled states by maintaining automatic deviance–detection functions.

Mind wandering as data augmentation: How mental travel supports abstraction

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myrthe Faber
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Data Augmentation ◽  
Mental Content ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Important Addition

Abstract Gilead et al. state that abstraction supports mental travel, and that mental travel critically relies on abstraction. I propose an important addition to this theoretical framework, namely that mental travel might also support abstraction. Specifically, I argue that spontaneous mental travel (mind wandering), much like data augmentation in machine learning, provides variability in mental content and context necessary for abstraction.

A New Technique to Measure the Level of Interest Using Heartbeat-Evoked Brain Potential

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Kohei Fuseda ◽  
Jun’ichi Katayama
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Random Order ◽  
Overt Response ◽  
Brain Potential ◽  
Probe Technique ◽  
Dynamic Stimuli ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
A New Technique ◽  
Task Irrelevant

Abstract. Interest is a positive emotion related to attention. The event-related brain potential (ERP) probe technique is a useful method to evaluate the level of interest in dynamic stimuli. However, even in the irrelevant probe technique, the probe is presented as a physical stimulus and steals the observer’s attentional resources, although no overt response is required. Therefore, the probe might become a problematic distractor, preventing deep immersion of participants. Heartbeat-evoked brain potential (HEP) is a brain activity, time-locked to a cardiac event. No probe is required to obtain HEP data. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether the HEP can be used to evaluate the level of interest. Twenty-four participants (12 males and 12 females) watched attractive and unattractive individuals of the opposite sex in interesting and uninteresting videos (7 min each), respectively. We performed two techniques each for both the interesting and the uninteresting videos: the ERP probe and the HEP techniques. In the former, somatosensory stimuli were presented as task-irrelevant probes while participants watched videos: frequent (80%) and infrequent (20%) stimuli were presented at each wrist in random order. In the latter, participants watched videos without the probe. The P2 amplitude in response to the somatosensory probe was smaller and the positive wave amplitudes of HEP were larger while watching the videos of attractive individuals than while watching the videos of unattractive ones. These results indicate that the HEP technique is a useful method to evaluate the level of interest without an external probe stimulus.

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