Reconceptualizing mind wandering from a switching perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Sheng Wong ◽  
Adrian R. Willoughby ◽  
Liana Machado
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Resource Control ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theories Of Mind ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Older Populations ◽  
And Task

Mind wandering is a universal phenomenon in which our attention shifts away from the task at hand toward task-unrelated thoughts. Despite it inherently involving a shift in mental set, little is known about the role of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering. In this article we consider the potential of cognitive flexibility as a mechanism for mediating and/or regulating the occurrence of mind wandering. Our review begins with a brief introduction to the prominent theories of mind wandering—the executive failure hypothesis, the decoupling hypothesis, the process-occurrence framework, and the resource-control account of sustained attention. Then, after discussing their respective merits and weaknesses, we put forward a new perspective of mind wandering focused on cognitive flexibility, which provides an account more in line with the data to date, including why older populations experience a reduction in mind wandering. After summarizing initial evidence prompting this new perspective, drawn from several mind-wandering and task-switching studies, we recommend avenues for future research aimed at further understanding the importance of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering.

scholarly journals Spontaneous Mind-Wandering Tendencies Linked to Cognitive Flexibility in Young Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Sheng Wong ◽  
Adrian R. Willoughby ◽  
Liana Machado
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Voluntary Task Switching ◽  
Switching Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Task

Despite that previous studies have investigated mind wandering using task-switching paradigms, the association between the tendency to mind wander and cognitive flexibility remains largely unexplored. The present study investigated the relationship between self-reported spontaneous mind-wandering tendencies and task-switching performance in young adults. Seventy-nine university students performed a forced task-switching and a voluntary task-switching paradigm and then completed a battery of questionnaires. The results showed that compared to participants with lower spontaneous mind-wandering tendencies, participants with higher spontaneous mind-wandering tendencies demonstrated better performance (evidenced by smaller switch cost reaction times) in the forced task-switching paradigm despite indicating more mind wandering during task performance. Performance on the voluntary task-switching paradigm, on the other hand, did not differ between the two groups. The findings in the forced task-switching paradigm indicate a link between mind wandering and cognitive flexibility, thus providing initial evidence in favor of a role for switching in mind wandering.

Innovative Business Models in Digital Firms

2020 ◽  
pp. 79-98
Author(s):  
Patrizia Accordino ◽  
Tindara Abbate ◽  
Daniela Rupo ◽  
Raffaella Coppolino ◽  
Elvira Tiziana La Rocca
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service Innovation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Use Of Services ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
New Perspective

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development intends to improve efforts of governments, societies, and companies to deal with major social and environmental problems affecting contemporary societies. From a business perspective, companies can find a propulsive boost of innovation looking at different models of production and use of services/products. This new perspective is radically changing the ways companies and consumers interact, and the role of companies in supporting the achievement of SDGs through service innovation is becoming pervasive. In addition, the emerging digital economy represents a great opportunity opening up to sustainability-oriented service innovation and firms are developing their competitive advantage based on the introduction of new digital business models. This chapter explores this issue through an explorative case study based on the MyTaxi business model. Implications for managers and researchers and opportunities for future research are highlighted.

Measuring Task-Switching Ability in the Implicit Association Test

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitja D. Back ◽  
Stefan C. Schmukle ◽  
Boris Egloff
Keyword(s):  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Implicit Association Test ◽  
Association Test ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Implicit Association ◽  
Stability Studies ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Good Internal Consistency

Abstract. Recently, the role of method-specific variance in the Implicit Association Test (IAT) was examined ( McFarland & Crouch, 2002 ; Mierke & Klauer, 2003 ). This article presents a new content-unspecific control task for the assessment of task-switching ability within the IAT methodology. Study 1 showed that this task exhibited good internal consistency and stability. Studies 2-4 examined method-specific variance in the IAT and showed that the control task is significantly associated with conventionally scored IAT effects of the IAT-Anxiety. Using the D measures proposed by Greenwald, Nosek, and Banaji (2003 ), the amount of method-specific variance in the IAT-Anxiety could be reduced. Possible directions for future research are outlined.

Age-related differences in task switching and task preparation: Exploring the role of task-set competition

2016 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Hirsch ◽  
Tina Schwarzkopp ◽  
Mathieu Declerck ◽  
Stefanie Reese ◽  
Iring Koch
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Task Set ◽  
Task Preparation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
And Task

The role of task preparation and task inhibition in age-related task-switching deficits.

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1130-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Lawo ◽  
Andrea M. Philipp ◽  
Stefanie Schuch ◽  
Iring Koch
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Task Preparation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
And Task
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