Search Results (77)

Objective: The association between Mind-Wandering (MW), symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and task performance is understudied in children, and has never been studied in a population of kindergarten-aged children. Kindergarten is an important developmental stage in which children begin to acquire the building stones for proper academic abilities. Methods: One hundred and six kindergarten-aged children performed arithmetic and phonological tasks, and their level of MW was examined after each task in two different sessions. In addition, the ADHD symptoms’ level was collected for each participant. Results: A positive correlation between symptoms of ADHD and MW was found. In addition, reliability assessment of the two probes of MW indicated adequate reliability. Finally, the results suggest a connection between MW and academic-related task performance, beyond the effect of ADHD symptoms. Conclusions: MW is a stable cognitive structure beyond a specific task or time; it is also associated with symptoms of ADHD and relates to poorer performance in academic-related tasks in kindergarten-aged children. Full article

Compulsive fantasy, often called “maladaptive daydreaming,” involves frequent engagement with immersive fantasies that can sometimes interfere with everyday life and cause distress. This paper expands on Christoff and colleagues’ Dynamic Framework of Thought (DFT) to offer a process-based analysis of compulsive fantasy as it relates to other mental phenomena such as daydreaming and creative thought. Drawing on the existing literature and posts on online forums by self-identified maladaptive daydreamers, we also propose an account of how compulsive fantasy episodes may unfold in terms of the oscillating dynamics of various constraints on thought, and how these dynamics may be related to a perceived struggle with agency. Automatic constraints, including affective salience and mental habits, may bring about a fantasy episode. During a fantasy episode, automatic constraints may be relatively high throughout, whereas deliberate constraints may be intermittently engaged to influence the fantasy. Our analysis supports the use of “compulsive fantasy” as a more accurate designation than “maladaptive daydreaming” for this phenomenon: compulsive fantasies are not daydreams, because they are more constrained in their mental dynamics. We show that fantasy and daydreaming are not inherently harmful but can become so when they are accompanied by relatively strong and sustained automatic constraints on thought. Full article

There remains little understanding of how short-term mindfulness interventions influence creative cognition. We report an experiment that examined the impact of a brief mindfulness intervention on sustained attention, attentional inhibition, and convergent thinking, relative to a control group. Participants (N = 117) were assigned to either a brief mindfulness practice (n = 60) or an active control task (n = 57), before completing the following: (i) a Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), to assess sustained attention; (ii) a flanker task, to assess attentional inhibition; and (iii) a convergent thinking task (a series of rebus puzzles). The mindfulness group showed faster reaction times than the control group on the SART, along with fewer task-unrelated mind-wandering thoughts, suggestive of better sustained attention. The mindfulness group also demonstrated improved reaction times and accuracy relative to the control group during the flanker task, indicating enhanced inhibitory control. However, rebus puzzle scores did not differ between groups, indicating that although a brief mindfulness practice enhances sustained attention and attentional inhibition, this improved attentional control does not facilitate convergent thinking in solving rebus puzzles. Full article

Mind wandering is a mental activity that occupies up to 50% of our waking time. While scientists have now started to acknowledge and to study the creative potential of mind wandering for our imaginative skills, fiction has long recognised its value. This article focuses on the depiction of mind wandering in fiction, with examples ranging from Virginia Woolf’s The Waves to Ayumu Watanabe’s movie Children of the Sea. In particular, I focus on how images related to water are employed in this respect. It appears that water-related metaphors and imagery are particularly significant for the depiction of the interlacement between mind wandering and processes of creativity connected to fiction. This article argues that the notion of fictional world per se can be enriched and better conceptualised as a less “fixed” entity if pictured as a fluid, stream-like mental construct, shaped by imaginative engagement and mind wandering. Full article

Background: Mindfulness and mind wandering are cognitive traits central to attentional control and psychological well-being, yet their neural underpinnings are yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to identify structural brain networks comprising gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) that predict individual differences in mindfulness and distinct mind wandering tendencies (deliberate and spontaneous). Methods: Using structural MRI data and self-report measures from 76 participants, we applied an unsupervised data-fusion machine learning technique (parallel independent component analysis) to identify GM and WM networks associated with mindfulness and mind wandering traits. Results: Our analysis revealed several distinct brain networks linked to these cognitive constructs. Specifically, one GM network involving subcortical regions, including the caudate and thalamus, positively predicted mindfulness and deliberate mind wandering, while negatively influencing spontaneous mind wandering through the mediating role of the mindfulness facet “acting with awareness.” In addition, two separate WM networks, predominantly involving frontoparietal and temporal regions, were directly associated with reduced spontaneous mind wandering. Conclusions: These findings advance our current knowledge by demonstrating that specific GM and WM structures are involved in mindfulness and different forms of mind wandering. Our results also show that the “acting with awareness” facet has a mediating effect on spontaneous mind wandering, which provides supporting evidence for attentional and executive control models. These new insights into the neuroanatomical correlates of mindfulness and mind wandering have implications for ongoing research in the growing topic of mindfulness and mind wandering, mindfulness-based interventions, and other clinical applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) is a clinical condition primarily characterized by inattention, hypoactivity, and mind-wandering, which has not yet been recognized as an official diagnostic category. Although there are overlaps between CDS and ADHD, evidence supports the semi-independence of CDS from the ADHD-Inattentive subtype. Importantly, while the impact of ADHD on parenting styles has been studied, no previous research has investigated the potential influence of CDS difficulties on parenting behaviors. Both CDS and ADHD are associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms, which are influenced by negative parenting styles. The severity of ADHD is known to predict the use of dysfunctional parenting patterns; however, no studies have yet investigated how CDS difficulties might affect parenting styles. Due to the similarities between CDS and ADHD, it is reasonable to hypothesize a similar relationship. This study aims to examine the potential mediating role of parenting styles—both negative and positive—in the relationship between CDS difficulties and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Methods: The sample is composed of 369 Italian school-aged children (9.38 ± 2.34 years old). Parents reported on their children’s psychopathology, CDS difficulties, and their own parenting strategies. Results: Analyses conducted using Hayes’ PROCESS tool indicated that only negative parenting styles partially mediated the relationship between CDS difficulties and parent-reported youth anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of interventions aimed at both addressing CDS in children and improving parenting strategies to enhance youth psychopathological outcomes. Full article

Mind wandering (MW) is a significant safety risk in driving, yet research on its scope, underlying mechanisms, and mitigation strategies remains fragmented across disciplines. In this review guided by the PRISMA framework, we analyze findings from 64 empirical studies to address these factors. The presented study quantifies the prevalence of MW in naturalistic and simulated driving environments and shows its impact on driving behaviors. We document its negative effects on braking reaction times and lane-keeping consistency, and we assess recent advancements in objective detection methods, including EEG signatures, eye-tracking metrics, and physiological markers. We also identify key cognitive and contextual risk factors, including high perceived risk, route familiarity, and driver fatigue, which increase MW episodes. Also, we survey emergent countermeasures, such as haptic steering wheel alerts and adaptive cruise control perturbations, designed to sustain driver engagement. Despite these advancements, the MW research shows persistent challenges, including methodological heterogeneity that limits cross-study comparisons, a lack of real-world validation of detection algorithms, and a scarcity of long-term field trials of interventions. Our integrated synthesis, therefore, outlines a research agenda prioritizing harmonized measurement protocols, on-road algorithm deployment, and rigorous evaluation of countermeasures under naturalistic driving conditions. Full article

This study aims to explore the individual engagement of two elementary students in science class to derive educational implications. Using mobile eye trackers and an object detection model, gaze data were collected to identify educational objects and analyze attention, mind wandering, and off-task periods. The data were analyzed in the context of class and student behaviors. Interviews with the students enabled an understanding of their engagement patterns. The first student demonstrated an average attention ratio of 21.42% and a mind wandering ratio of 21.54%, characterized by inconsistent mind wandering and frequent off-task behaviors, resulting in low attention. In contrast, the second student showed an average attention ratio of 32.35% and a mind wandering ratio of 11.53%, maintaining consistent engagement throughout the class. While the two students exhibited differences in attention, mind wandering, and off-task behaviors, common factors influencing engagement were identified. Both students showed higher attention during active learning activities, such as experiments and inquiry tasks, while group interactions and visual/auditory stimuli supported sustained attention or transitions from mind wandering to attention. However, repetitive or passive tasks were associated with increased mind wandering. Such results highlight differences in individual engagement patterns and emphasize the value of integrating eye tracking and object detection with qualitative data, which provides a reference for tailoring educational strategies and improving learning environments. Full article

This study aimed to address the dearth of literature on mechanisms of effect of mindfulness-based interventions by investigating metacognitive beliefs as a potential mechanism of symptomology-reduction effects. The Cognitive Attentional Syndrome (CAS) component of the Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model was augmented to include subtypes of mind wandering and rumination. One hundred and seventy-eight participants sourced from professional networks (M_age = 53.13; SD = 11.80) completed an online questionnaire measuring dispositional mindfulness, metacognitive beliefs, rumination, mind wandering, worry, anxiety and depression. Effects of meditation frequency on these variables were examined, as were the relationships between them. Dispositional mindfulness was significantly negatively correlated with metacognitive beliefs, which were positively correlated with worry, mind wandering and rumination, all of which were positively correlated with symptomology. Significant correlations were stronger for spontaneous mind wandering and brooding rumination than their counterparts. Those reporting a daily meditation practice scored significantly higher on three of the five facets of mindfulness and significantly lower on anxiety and depression symptomology and several CAS elements than those who rarely meditated. Changes in metacognitive beliefs are a potential pathway for MBI-driven reductions in anxiety and depression symptomology. Increases in dispositional mindfulness through MBIs are likely to reduce metacognitive beliefs, which reduce maladaptive processes of the CAS, flowing on to reductions in symptomology. A daily meditation practice appears to increase the efficacy of this mechanism. Subtypes of mind wandering and rumination differ in their contribution to this pathway, perhaps more accurately represented as extremes on their respective continua rather than the current categorical model of typologies measured independently. Full article

Background/Objectives: The understanding of the mechanisms involved in the etiopathogenesis and maintenance of Bipolar Disorder (BD) should be a priority to identify potential early clinical markers that could help in improving treatment strategies and prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential correlation between hopelessness, alexithymia, mind wandering, and rumination in patients with a primary diagnosis of BD, evaluating whether these psychopathological aspects could negatively affect bipolar illness. Methods: A semi-structured interview was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Several psychometric tools were administered: the Beck Hopelessness Scale; Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Rumination Response Scale; Mind Wandering Questionnaire; Mind Wandering: Deliberate; Mind Wandering: Spontaneous; and the Daydreaming Frequency Scale. Results: Patients with high levels of hopelessness have a greater number of psychiatric and medical comorbidities and are more frequently on polypharmacotherapy. Additionally, patients with high levels of hopelessness show a greater likelihood of having attempted suicide during their lifetime. The presence of alexithymia is associated with longer hospitalization and psychiatric comorbidities. Higher levels of rumination correlate with a greater number of psychiatric and medical comorbidities, and with the presence of residual symptoms. Mind wandering is associated with the presence of medical comorbidities and residual symptoms. Conclusions: Hopelessness, alexithymia, mind wandering, and rumination should be identified as important proxies of impaired subjective well-being that should be carefully monitored because they could further worsen the clinical course of BD and suicidal risk in this vulnerable population. Full article

Background/Objectives. While mind wandering has often been linked to negative outcomes, some research suggests it has potential benefits for creativity, particularly through incubation. However, two critical gaps remain: limited understanding of mind wandering’s effects on creative performance and lack of comparative research examining its impact on both divergent and convergent thinking. The study addressed these gaps by comparing the effects of two types of mind wandering (i.e., with and without awareness) on both types of creative thinking, using repeated and novel problems post-incubation to isolate effects. Methods. Eighty-five participants completed divergent (Unusual Uses Task, UUT) and convergent (Compound Remote Associate Task, CRA) thinking tasks, interspersed with a 0-back incubation task. Thought probes measured mind wandering frequency and awareness. Performance was assessed for fluency and originality (UUT) and accuracy (CRA), with problems categorised by difficulty. Results. Results revealed no significant effects of mind wandering on divergent thinking, though incubation improved fluency, particularly for repeated items. For convergent thinking, mind wandering with awareness enhanced performance on low-difficulty repeated items, while mind wandering without awareness hindered novel moderate-difficulty items. Divergent and convergent performance showed no correlation, suggesting distinct cognitive demands. Conclusions. The findings provide evidence that mind wandering’s impact on creativity is limited and context-dependent, with conscious reflection during incubation more beneficial than uncontrolled drifting. Differences in task demands and difficulty levels further modulate these effects. Future research should explore naturalistic settings and use of incubation tasks that do not compete for cognitive resources with the core task to better understand incubation and mind wandering’s roles in creativity. Full article

While morningness (a preference for rising earlier in the day) is associated with positive affect and life satisfaction, eveningness is correlated with negative emotionality, poor sleep, less self-control, and more procrastination. The current study investigated inter-relationships between morningness–eveningness; bedtime, academic, and exercise procrastination; mind wandering; sleep quality; self-control; and depressive symptoms. An online survey including questionnaire measures of these variables was completed by 306 university students (aged 18–51 years; mean = 20.36, SD = 4.001; 34 male). Morningness correlated with more self-control and better sleep quality—eveningness correlated with more bedtime, academic, and exercise procrastination; depressive symptoms; and mind wandering. All forms of procrastination negatively correlated with self-control and sleep quality, and positively correlated with depressive symptoms and mind wandering, although more strongly with spontaneous than deliberate mind wandering. Mediation effects were found—bedtime procrastination (BP) between eveningness and spontaneous mind wandering (MW); spontaneous MW between BP and sleep quality; sleep quality between BP and depressive symptoms; self-control between depressive symptoms and academic procrastination. A path model of these inter-relationships was developed. This study adds to a growing body of research indicating that interventions to reduce bedtime procrastination may bring about improvements in wellbeing and academic achievement. Full article

The electroencephalography (EEG)-based approach provides a promising low-cost and non-invasive approach to the early detection of pathological cognitive decline. However, current studies predominantly utilize EEGs from resting state (rsEEG) or task-state (task EEG), posing challenges to classification performances due to the unconstrainted nature of mind wandering during resting state or the inherent inter-participant variability from task execution. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel feature extraction framework, working memory task-induced EEG response (WM-TIER), which adjusts task EEG features by rsEEG features and leverages the often-overlooked inter-state changes of EEGs. We recorded EEGs from 21 AD individuals, 24 MCI individuals, and 27 healthy controls (HC) during both resting and working memory task conditions. We then compared the classification performance of WM-TIER to the conventional rsEEG or task EEG framework. For each framework, three feature types were examined: relative power, spectral coherence, and filter-bank phase lag index (FB-PLI). Our results indicated that FB-PLI-based WM-TIER features provide (1) better AD/MCI versus HC classification accuracy than rsEEG and task EEG frameworks and (2) high accuracy for three-class classification of AD vs. MCI vs. HC. These findings suggest that the EEG-based rest-to-task state transition can be an effective neural marker for the early detection of pathological cognitive decline. Full article

Music has been shown to increase arousal and attention and even facilitate processing during non-musical tasks, including those related to speech and language functions. Mind wandering has been studied in many sustained attention tasks. Here, we investigated the intersection of these two phenomena: the role of mind wandering while listening to familiar/unfamiliar musical excerpts, and its effects on concurrent linguistic processing. We hypothesized that familiar music would be less distracting than unfamiliar music, causing less mind wandering, and consequently benefit concurrent speech perception. Participants (N = 96 young adults) performed a lexical-semantic congruity task where they judged the relatedness of visually presented word pairs while listening to non-vocal classical music (familiar or unfamiliar orchestral pieces), or a non-music environmental sound clip (control) played in the background. Mind wandering episodes were probed intermittently during the task by explicitly asking listeners if their mind was wandering in that moment. The primary outcome was accuracy and reactions times measured during the lexical-semantic judgment task across the three background music conditions (familiar, unfamiliar, and control). We found that listening to familiar music, relative to unfamiliar music or environmental noise, was associated with faster lexical-semantic decisions and a lower incidence of mind wandering. Mind wandering frequency was similar when performing the task when listening to familiar music and control environmental sounds. We infer that familiar music increases task enjoyment, reduces mind wandering, and promotes more rapid lexical access during concurrent lexical processing, by modulating task-related attentional resources. The implications of using music as an aid during academic study and cognitive tasks are discussed. Full article

The Thoughtseeds Framework introduces a novel computational approach to modeling thought dynamics in meditative states, conceptualizing thoughtseeds as dynamic attentional agents that integrate information. This hierarchical model, structured as nested Markov blankets, comprises three interconnected levels: (i) knowledge domains as information repositories, (ii) the Thoughtseed Network where thoughtseeds compete, and (iii) meta-cognition regulating awareness. It simulates focused-attention Vipassana meditation via rule-based training informed by empirical neuroscience research on attentional stability and neural dynamics. Four states—breath_control, mind_wandering, meta_awareness, and redirect_breath—emerge organically from thoughtseed interactions, demonstrating self-organizing dynamics. Results indicate that experts sustain control dominance to reinforce focused attention, while novices exhibit frequent, prolonged mind_wandering episodes, reflecting beginner instability. Integrating Global Workspace Theory and the Intrinsic Ignition Framework, the model elucidates how thoughtseeds shape a unitary meditative experience through meta-awareness, balancing epistemic and pragmatic affordances via active inference. Synthesizing computational modeling with phenomenological insights, it provides an embodied perspective on cognitive state emergence and transitions, offering testable predictions about meditation skill development. The framework yields insights into attention regulation, meta-cognitive awareness, and meditation state emergence, establishing a versatile foundation for future research into diverse meditation practices (e.g., Open Monitoring, Non-Dual Awareness), cognitive development across the lifespan, and clinical applications in mindfulness-based interventions for attention disorders, advancing our understanding of the nature of mind and thought. Full article