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The role of task difficulty in theoretical accounts of mind wandering.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Seli, P; Konishi, M; Risko, EF; Smilek, D
Published in: Consciousness and cognition
October 2018

Recent research has indicated that reducing the difficulty of a task by increasing the predictability of critical stimuli produces increases in intentional mind wandering, but, contrary to theoretical expectations, decreases in unintentional mind wandering. Here, we sought to determine whether reducing task difficulty by reducing working-memory load would yield similar results. Participants completed an easy (Choice Response Time; CRT) task and a relatively difficult (Working Memory; WM) task, and intermittently responded to thought probes asking about intentional and unintentional mind wandering. As in prior studies, we found higher rates of intentional mind wandering during the easy compared to the more difficult task. However, we also found more unintentional mind wandering during the difficult compared to the easy task. We discuss these results in the context of theoretical accounts of mind wandering.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Consciousness and cognition

DOI

EISSN

1090-2376

ISSN

1053-8100

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

65

Start / End Page

255 / 262

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Intention
  • Humans
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Attention
  • Adult
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Seli, P., Konishi, M., Risko, E. F., & Smilek, D. (2018). The role of task difficulty in theoretical accounts of mind wandering. Consciousness and Cognition, 65, 255–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2018.08.005
Seli, Paul, Mahiko Konishi, Evan F. Risko, and Daniel Smilek. “The role of task difficulty in theoretical accounts of mind wandering.Consciousness and Cognition 65 (October 2018): 255–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2018.08.005.
Seli P, Konishi M, Risko EF, Smilek D. The role of task difficulty in theoretical accounts of mind wandering. Consciousness and cognition. 2018 Oct;65:255–62.
Seli, Paul, et al. “The role of task difficulty in theoretical accounts of mind wandering.Consciousness and Cognition, vol. 65, Oct. 2018, pp. 255–62. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.concog.2018.08.005.
Seli P, Konishi M, Risko EF, Smilek D. The role of task difficulty in theoretical accounts of mind wandering. Consciousness and cognition. 2018 Oct;65:255–262.
Journal cover image

Published In

Consciousness and cognition

DOI

EISSN

1090-2376

ISSN

1053-8100

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

65

Start / End Page

255 / 262

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Intention
  • Humans
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Attention
  • Adult
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology