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.

Does Depleting Self-Control Result in Poorer Vigilance Performance?

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-425
Author(s):  
Kelly Satterfield ◽  
Amanda E. Harwood ◽  
William S. Helton ◽  
Tyler H. Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Control Theory ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Resource Control ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Vigilance Performance ◽  
Typing Task

Objective: To investigate whether depleting self-control prior to vigilance results in a steeper vigilance decrement. Background: The resource-control theory of vigilance asserts that an inherent bias toward self-generated mind-wandering draws attentional resources away from the primary task. This study seeks to test whether depleting self-control, the potential mechanism of self-generated mind-wandering, results in poorer vigilance performance. Method: This study featured a between-subjects design where participants either completed a typing task that depleted self-control resources or a standard typing task that did not require self-control before performing a vigilance task. In the self-control depletion condition, participants typed a passage while omitting any “e” and “space” keys. In the standard typing task, participants typed the same passage without skipping any keys. Following both typing tasks, participants in both conditions completed an identical 12-min vigilance task. Results: Results demonstrated decreased accuracy and increased reaction times over time for both groups. Depleting self-control did not result in significant differences in accuracy, reaction time, nor a steeper vigilance decrement. Conclusion: These results provide evidence against resource-control theory and self-control as an explanation for vigilance, and provide further support for cognitive resource theory as the predominant explanation for vigilance impairments. Application: It is still unclear exactly what constitutes a “resource.” A better understanding of the nature of these resources can help researchers and practitioners identify how they can be replenished, which could enhance human performance in situations requiring vigilance such as baggage screening.

scholarly journals The Sustained Attention to Response Task Shows Lower Cingulo-Opercular and Frontoparietal Activity in People with Narcolepsy Type 1: An fMRI Study on the Neural Regulation of Attention

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 419
Author(s):  
Jari K. Gool ◽  
Ysbrand D. van der Werf ◽  
Gert Jan Lammers ◽  
Rolf Fronczek
Keyword(s):  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Group Performance ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Time On Task ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Response Task

Vigilance complaints often occur in people with narcolepsy type 1 and severely impair effective daytime functioning. We tested the feasibility of a three-level sustained attention to response task (SART) paradigm within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment to understand brain architecture underlying vigilance regulation in individuals with narcolepsy type 1. Twelve medication-free people with narcolepsy type 1 and 11 matched controls were included. The SART included four repetitions of a baseline block and two difficulty levels requiring moderate and high vigilance. Outcome measures were between and within-group performance indices on error rates and reaction times, and functional MRI (fMRI) parameters: mean activity during the task and between-group activity differences across the three conditions and related to changes in activation over time (time-on-task) and error-related activity. Patients—but not controls—made significantly more mistakes with increasing difficulty. The modified SART is a feasible MRI vigilance task showing similar task-positive brain activity in both groups within the cingulo-opercular, frontoparietal, arousal, motor, and visual networks. During blocks of higher vigilance demand, patients had significantly lower activation in these regions than controls. Patients had lower error-related activity in the left pre- and postcentral gyrus. The time-on-task activity differences between groups suggest that those with narcolepsy are insufficiently capable of activating attention- and arousal-related regions when transitioning from attention initiation to stable attention, specifically when vigilance demand is high. They also show lower inhibitory motor activity in relation to errors, suggesting impaired executive functioning.

Performance in Vigilance Tasks is Related to Both State and Contextual Motivation

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1145-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis R. Dewar ◽  
Nicholas W. Fraulini ◽  
Victoria L. Claypoole ◽  
James L. Szalma
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Time On Task ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Vigilance Performance ◽  
Task Instructions ◽  
State Motivation

Vigilance, or sustained attention, is the ability to maintain attention to stimuli over a prolonged period of time. Synonymous with the study of sustained attention is the vigilance decrement, which is a decline in performance as a function of time on task. In the present study, we examined the effects of state motivation (i.e., motivation measured immediately prior to the task) and context-based motivation (i.e., motivation that stems from task instructions) on vigilance performance in a sensory-based vigilance task. Forty-three participants completed a 24-minute vigilance task, as well as measures of stress and workload. The results indicated that those higher in state intrinsic motivation and motivating instructions outperformed their peers in terms of hits and false alarms. We conclude that motivation may help facilitate vigilant attention.

Driver Vigilance in Automated Vehicles: Hazard Detection Failures Are a Matter of Time

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric T. Greenlee ◽  
Patricia R. DeLucia ◽  
David C. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Safety Concern ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Time On Task ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Automated Vehicles ◽  
Automated Driving ◽  
Automated Vehicle ◽  
Hazard Detection ◽  
And Performance

Objective: The primary aim of the current study was to determine whether monitoring the roadway for hazards during automated driving results in a vigilance decrement. Background: Although automated vehicles are relatively novel, the nature of human-automation interaction within them has the classic hallmarks of a vigilance task. Drivers must maintain attention for prolonged periods of time to detect and respond to rare and unpredictable events, for example, roadway hazards that automation may be ill equipped to detect. Given the similarity with traditional vigilance tasks, we predicted that drivers of a simulated automated vehicle would demonstrate a vigilance decrement in hazard detection performance. Method: Participants “drove” a simulated automated vehicle for 40 minutes. During that time, their task was to monitor the roadway for roadway hazards. Results: As predicted, hazard detection rate declined precipitously, and reaction times slowed as the drive progressed. Further, subjective ratings of workload and task-related stress indicated that sustained monitoring is demanding and distressing and it is a challenge to maintain task engagement. Conclusion: Monitoring the roadway for potential hazards during automated driving results in workload, stress, and performance decrements similar to those observed in traditional vigilance tasks. Application: To the degree that vigilance is required of automated vehicle drivers, performance errors and associated safety risks are likely to occur as a function of time on task. Vigilance should be a focal safety concern in the development of vehicle automation.

scholarly journals Sleep Deprivation and Time-on-Task Performance Decrement in the Rat Psychomotor Vigilance Task

SLEEP ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella Oonk ◽  
Christopher J. Davis ◽  
James M. Krueger ◽  
Jonathan P. Wisor ◽  
Hans P.A. Van Dongen
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Time On Task ◽  
Performance Decrement ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance Task ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance

scholarly journals Pupillometry and the vigilance decrement: Task-evoked but not baseline pupil measures reflect declining performance in visual vigilance tasks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Thomas Martin ◽  
Annalise Whittaker ◽  
Stephen Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measures ◽  
Pupil Size ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Fitness For Duty ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Task

Baseline and task-evoked pupil measures are known to reflect the activity of the nervous system's central arousal mechanisms. With the increasing availability, affordability and flexibility of video-based eye tracking hardware, these measures may one day find practical application in real-time biobehavioral monitoring systems to assess performance or fitness for duty in tasks requiring vigilant attention. But real-world vigilance tasks are predominantly visual in their nature and most research in this area has taken place in the auditory domain. Here we explore the relationship between pupil size—both baseline and task-evoked—and behavioral performance measures in two novel vigilance tasks requiring visual target detection: 1) a traditional vigilance task involving prolonged, continuous, and uninterrupted performance (n = 28), and 2) a psychomotor vigilance task (n = 25). In both tasks, behavioral performance and task-evoked pupil responses declined as time spent on task increased, corroborating previous reports in the literature of a vigilance decrement with a corresponding reduction in task-evoked pupil measures. Also in line with previous findings, baseline pupil size did not show a consistent relationship with performance measures. We discuss our findings considering the adaptive gain theory of locus coeruleus function and question the validity of the assumption that baseline (prestimulus) pupil size and task-evoked (poststimulus) pupil measures correspond to the tonic and phasic firing modes of the LC.

Does the Vigilance Decrement Occur for Elementary Features?

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 1267-1271
Author(s):  
Patricia R. DeLucia ◽  
Eric T. Greenlee ◽  
Joel S. Warm
Keyword(s):  
Search Task ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Critical Signal ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Feature Line ◽  
Baggage Screening ◽  
Monitoring Performance

The aim of the current study was to determine whether the vigilance decrement occurs when observers search for a critical signal that consists of an elementary feature (line orientation). Elementary features are processed quickly and presumably with minimal attentional resources (Treisman & Gormican, 1988). Such features should be resistant to the vigilance decrement, according to theories of the decrement that posit depletion of attentional resources as the underlying mechanism. Observers completed a vigilance task in which they reported the presence of a critical signal, which consisted of a slanted line presented amidst vertical lines. A vigilance decrement was evident in correct detections and reaction time. In a follow-up study, a pop-out effect for the slanted line was replicated in a traditional search task. To the extent that an elementary feature is processed preattenatively, the occurrence of a vigilance decrement challenges theories of the decrement based on depleted attentional resources. However, whether elementary features are processed without attention has been debated and further studies are needed. Identifying display characteristics that can be processed automatically without depleting attention will enhance monitoring performance by eliminating the decrement in safety critical tasks such as aviation and baggage screening.

scholarly journals Performance, Hemodynamics, and Stress in a Two-Day Vigilance Task: Practical and Theoretical Implications

2021 ◽  
pp. 001872082110113
Author(s):  
Samantha L. Smith ◽  
William S. Helton ◽  
Gerald Matthews ◽  
Gregory J. Funke
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Time On Task ◽  
Attention Tasks ◽  
High Workload ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Relationship

Objective To explore vigilance task performance, cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), workload, and stress in a within-subjects, two-session experiment. Background Vigilance, or sustained attention, tasks are often characterized by a decline in operator performance and CBFV with time on task, and high workload and stress. Though performance is known to improve with practice, past research has not included measures of CBFV, stress, and workload in a within-subjects multi-session design, which may also provide insight into ongoing theoretical debate. Method Participants performed a vigilance task on two separate occasions. Performance, CBFV, workload, and self-reported stress were measured. Results Within each session, results were consistent with the vigilance profile found in prior research. Across sessions, performance improved but the time on task decrement remained. Mean CBFV and workload ratings did not differ between sessions, but participants reported significantly less distress, worry, and engagement after session two compared to one. Conclusion Though practice may not disrupt the standard vigilance profile, it may serve to improve overall performance and reduce stress. However, repeated exposure may have negative implications for engagement and mind-wandering. Application It is important to better understand the relationship between experience, performance, physiological response, and self-reported stress and workload in vigilance because real-world environments often require operators to do the same task over many occasions. While performance improvement and reduced distress is an encouraging result, the decline in engagement requires further research. Results across sessions fail to provide support to the mind-wandering theory of vigilance.

Beyond the Vigilance End-Spurt with Event-Related Potentials

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1258-1262
Author(s):  
Megan B. Morris ◽  
Ashley R. Haubert ◽  
Glenn Gunzelmann
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Task Environment ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Eeg Data ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Insight Into

As task environments become more automated and operators become more passive monitors, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms of the vigilance decrement to help inform task development and interventions. Some vigilance studies have reported an end-spurt effect, where performance increases at the end of the task. This is commonly purported to be the result of increased resources from motivation or arousal; however, self-regulation of attentional resources throughout the vigil has not been addressed. To provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the vigilance decrement, we utilize event-related potentials to examine the vigilance decrement beyond the end-spurt. Thirty-two individuals aged 18 – 36 ( M = 22.60; SD = 4.08) completed a vigilance task with an unknown end time while EEG data was collected. Results revealed non-monotonic trends in N1 and P3 components, suggesting that individuals might self-regulate resources during the vigil, adapting to the constraints of the task environment.

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