1
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Zhang H, Miyake A, Osborne J, Shah P, Jonides J. A d factor? Understanding trait distractibility and its relationships with ADHD symptomatology and hyperfocus. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292215. [PMID: 37878578 PMCID: PMC10599552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
People differ substantially in their vulnerability to distraction. Yet, many types of distractions exist, from external stimulation to internal thoughts. How should we characterize individual differences in their distractibility? Two samples of adult participants (total N = 1220) completed a large battery of questionnaires assessing different facets of real-world distractibility. Latent modeling revealed that these measures could be explained by three correlated-yet-distinct factors: external distraction, unwanted intrusive thoughts, and mind-wandering. Importantly, about 80% of the total variance in these three factors could be explained by a single higher-order factor (d) that could be construed in terms of a person's general distractibility, and this general distractibility model was replicated across the two samples. We then applied the general distractibility model to understand the nature of ADHD symptomatology and hyperfocus (an intense state of long-lasting and highly focused attention). d was substantially associated with self-reported ADHD symptoms. Interestingly, d was also positively associated with hyperfocus, suggesting that hyperfocus may, to some degree, reflect attention problems. These results also show marked consistencies across the two samples. Overall, the study provides an important step toward a comprehensive understanding of individual differences in distractibility and related constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Akira Miyake
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States of America
| | - Jahla Osborne
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Priti Shah
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - John Jonides
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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2
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Zhang Q, Xu L, Yan Y, Li G, Qiao D, Tian J. Distracted driving behavior in patients with insomnia. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2023; 183:106971. [PMID: 36657234 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2023.106971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders and is characterized by a subjective perception of difficulty falling asleep. Drivers with insomnia are vulnerable to distraction and exhibit higher levels of risk while driving. This study investigated the effect of two sources of in-vehicle distractions on the driving performance of drivers with insomnia and good sleepers by analyzing different driving behavior measures. Twenty-one drivers with insomnia and twenty-one healthy volunteers were recruited to complete simulated driving dual tasks. The primary task required the participants to perform: (a) a lane-keeping task, and (b) a lane-change task. The secondary task required the participants to deal with: (a) baseline (non-task), (b) internal distraction task, and (c) external distraction task. The internal distraction task required participants to complete quantitative reasoning tasks, while the external distraction task was a 0-back test. The relationship between distracted driving ability and cognitive function was also investigated. The results demonstrate that for lane-keeping tasks, drivers with insomnia had significantly higher standard deviations (SD) for speed, throttle position, acceleration, and lateral position than healthy drivers under internal distraction, but the driving performance did not differ significantly between groups under internal distraction or baseline. In the lane-change task, drivers with insomnia had higher SDs for steering wheel angle, steer angular velocity, lateral acceleration, and lateral speed than healthy drivers under external distraction. Moreover, external distraction impaired driving behavior in the healthy group, while internal distraction impaired driving ability in both groups. Healthy drivers with cognitive impairment displayed impaired lane-keeping abilities under internal distractions and impaired lane-changing abilities under external distractions. Driving performance in the insomnia group was not significantly associated with cognitive function. The results demonstrate that insomnia and distraction impair driving ability, and driver performance is affected differently by the distraction source (internal or external). The driving ability of healthy drivers with decreased cognition was impaired, but not that of insomniacs.The findings of this study provide new insights for preventing and estimating the potential influence of distracted driving behavior in individuals with insomnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianran Zhang
- Laboratory of Computation and Analytics of Complex Management Systems (CACMS), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China; College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
| | - Yingying Yan
- Laboratory of Computation and Analytics of Complex Management Systems (CACMS), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China; College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Geng Li
- College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Dandan Qiao
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University
| | - Junfang Tian
- Laboratory of Computation and Analytics of Complex Management Systems (CACMS), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China; College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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3
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Lunn J, Berggren N, Ward J, Forster S. Irrelevant sights and sounds require spatial suppression: ERP evidence. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14181. [PMID: 36114739 PMCID: PMC10078104 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Both real-world experience and behavioral laboratory research suggest that entirely irrelevant stimuli (distractors) can interfere with a primary task. However, it is as yet unknown whether such interference reflects competition for spatial attention - indeed, prominent theories of attention predict that this should not be the case. Whilst electrophysiological indices of spatial capture and spatial suppression have been well-investigated, experiments have primarily utilized distractors which share a degree of task-relevance with targets, and are limited to the visual domain. The present research measured behavioral and ERP responses to test the ability of salient yet entirely task-irrelevant visual and auditory distractors to compete for spatial attention during a visual task, while also testing for potentially enhanced competition from multisensory distractors. Participants completed a central letter search task, while ignoring lateralized visual (e.g., image of a dog), auditory (e.g., barking), or multisensory (e.g., image + barking) distractors. Results showed that visual and multisensory distractors elicited a PD component indicative of active lateralized suppression. We also establish for the first time an auditory analog of the PD component, the PAD , elicited by auditory and multisensory distractors. Interestingly, there was no evidence to suggest enhanced ability of multisensory distractors to compete for attentional selection, despite previous proposals of a "special" saliency status for such items. Our findings hence suggest that irrelevant multisensory and unisensory distractors are similarly capable of eliciting a spatial "attend-to-me" signal - a precursor of spatial attentional capture - but at least in the present data set did not elicit full spatial attentional capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Lunn
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Nick Berggren
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Ward
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Sophie Forster
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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4
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Marx C, Kalayci EG, Moertl P. Temporal Dashboard Gaze Variance (TDGV) Changes for Measuring Cognitive Distraction While Driving. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:9556. [PMID: 36502256 PMCID: PMC9740877 DOI: 10.3390/s22239556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A difficult challenge for today's driver monitoring systems is the detection of cognitive distraction. The present research presents the development of a theory-driven approach for cognitive distraction detection during manual driving based on temporal control theories. It is based solely on changes in the temporal variance of driving-relevant gaze behavior, such as gazes onto the dashboard (TDGV). Validation of the detection method happened in a field and in a simulator study by letting participants drive, alternating with and without a secondary task inducing external cognitive distraction (auditory continuous performance task). The general accuracy of the distraction detection method varies between 68% and 81% based on the quality of an individual prerecorded baseline measurement. As a theory-driven system, it represents not only a step towards a sophisticated cognitive distraction detection method, but also explains that changes in temporal dashboard gaze variance (TDGV) are a useful behavioral indicator for detecting cognitive distraction.
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5
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Comprehensively Summarizing What Distracts Students from Online Learning: A Literature Review. HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/1483531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
As online learning becomes an indispensable component of the current education system, students benefit from the advantages of online education. At the same time, students are also facing more challenges during online learning. Multitasking, mind-wandering, and using digital devices are the extensively discussed types of distractions that detriment students’ learning performance by impairing their focused attention. However, the consensus on the definition of distraction and what represents distraction during online learning are still lacking. This literature review develops a comprehensive definition of distraction, summarizes three main types of distraction (multitasking, mind-wandering, and using digital devices), and proposes two new types of distraction (unexpected interruption and consistent interference). Since the detrimental effects of distraction on online learning are salient, more explorations on helping students to resist distractions and maintain focused attention are imperative for future studies.
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Can KC, Tugba Ozel-Kizil E, Colak B, Duman B. Effects of gum chewing and repetitive motor activity on sustained attention in adults with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2022.2096623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kazım Cihan Can
- Department of Psychiatry, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Burcin Colak
- Department of Psychiatry, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Berker Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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7
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Manini G, Botta F, Martín-Arévalo E, Ferrari V, Lupiáñez J. Attentional Capture From Inside vs. Outside the Attentional Focus. Front Psychol 2021; 12:758747. [PMID: 34819898 PMCID: PMC8606668 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.758747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we jointly reported in an empirical and a theoretical way, for the first time, two main theories: Lavie's perceptual load theory and Gaspelin et al.'s attentional dwelling hypothesis. These theories explain in different ways the modulation of the perceptual load/task difficulty over attentional capture by irrelevant distractors and lead to the observation of the opposite results with similar manipulations. We hypothesized that these opposite results may critically depend on the distractor type used by the two experimental procedures (i.e., distractors inside vs. outside the attentional focus, which could be, respectively, considered as potentially relevant vs. completely irrelevant to the main task). Across a series of experiments, we compared both theories within the same paradigm by manipulating both the perceptual load/task difficulty and the distractor type. The results were strongly consistent, suggesting that the influence of task demands on attentional capture varies as a function of the distractor type: while the interference from (relevant) distractors presented inside the attentional focus was consistently higher for high vs. low load conditions, there was no modulation by (irrelevant) distractors presented outside the attentional focus. Moreover, we critically analyzed the theoretical conceptualization of interference using both theories, disentangling important outcomes for the dwelling hypothesis. Our results provide specific insights into new aspects of attentional capture, which can critically redefine these two predominant theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Manini
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Centro de Investigación Mente, Cerebro y Comportamiento (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Fabiano Botta
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Centro de Investigación Mente, Cerebro y Comportamiento (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Elisa Martín-Arévalo
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Centro de Investigación Mente, Cerebro y Comportamiento (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Vera Ferrari
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Juan Lupiáñez
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Centro de Investigación Mente, Cerebro y Comportamiento (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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8
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Forster S, Lavie N. Faces are not always special for attention: Effects of response-relevance and identity. Vision Res 2021; 189:1-10. [PMID: 34488066 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Research over the past 25 years indicates that stimulus processing is diminished when attention is engaged in a perceptually demanding task of high 'perceptual load'. These results have generalized across a variety of stimulus categories, but a controversy evolved over the question of whether perception of distractor faces (or other categories of perceptual expertise) can proceed irrespective of the level of perceptual load in the attended task. Here we identify task-relevance, and in particular identity-relevance, as a potentially important factor in explaining prior inconsistencies. In four experiments, we tested whether perceptual load in an attended letter or word task modulates the processing of famous face distractors, while varying their task-relevance. Distractor interference effects on task RTs was reduced by perceptual load not only when the faces were entirely task-irrelevant, but also when the face gender was task relevant, within a name gender classification response-competition task, using famous female or male distractor faces. However, when the identity associated with the famous faces was primed by the task using their names, as in prior demonstrations that face distractors are immune to the effects of perceptual load, we were able to replicate these prior findings. Our findings demonstrate a role for identity-priming by the relevant task in determining attentional capture by faces under high perceptual load. Our results also highlight the importance of considering even relatively subtle forms of task-relevance in selective attention research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nilli Lavie
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience University College London, UK
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9
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Coll-Martín T, Carretero-Dios H, Lupiáñez J. Attentional networks, vigilance, and distraction as a function of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in an adult community sample. Br J Psychol 2021; 112:1053-1079. [PMID: 34089269 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Attentional difficulties are a core axis in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, establishing a consistent and detailed pattern of these neurocognitive alterations has not been an easy endeavour. Based on a dimensional approach to ADHD, the present study aims at comprehensively characterizing three key attentional domains: the three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive attention), two components of vigilance (executive and arousal vigilance), and distraction. To do so, we modified a single, fine-grained task (the ANTI-Vea) by adding irrelevant distractors. One hundred and twenty undergraduates completed three self-reports of ADHD symptoms in childhood and adulthood and performed the ANTI-Vea. Despite the low reliability of some ANTI-Vea indexes, the task worked successfully. While ADHD symptoms in childhood were related to alerting network and arousal vigilance, symptoms in adulthood were linked to executive vigilance. No association between ADHD symptom severity and executive attention and distraction was found. In general, our hypotheses about the relationships between ADHD symptoms and attentional processes were partially supported. We discuss our findings according to ADHD theories and attention measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Coll-Martín
- Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Spain.,Department of Behavioral Sciences Methodology, University of Granada, Spain
| | - Hugo Carretero-Dios
- Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Spain.,Department of Behavioral Sciences Methodology, University of Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Lupiáñez
- Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Spain.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Spain
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10
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Brishtel I, Khan AA, Schmidt T, Dingler T, Ishimaru S, Dengel A. Mind Wandering in a Multimodal Reading Setting: Behavior Analysis & Automatic Detection Using Eye-Tracking and an EDA Sensor. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20092546. [PMID: 32365724 PMCID: PMC7248717 DOI: 10.3390/s20092546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mind wandering is a drift of attention away from the physical world and towards our thoughts and concerns. Mind wandering affects our cognitive state in ways that can foster creativity but hinder productivity. In the context of learning, mind wandering is primarily associated with lower performance. This study has two goals. First, we investigate the effects of text semantics and music on the frequency and type of mind wandering. Second, using eye-tracking and electrodermal features, we propose a novel technique for automatic, user-independent detection of mind wandering. We find that mind wandering was most frequent in texts for which readers had high expertise and that were combined with sad music. Furthermore, a significant increase in task-related thoughts was observed for texts for which readers had little prior knowledge. A Random Forest classification model yielded an F 1 -Score of 0.78 when using only electrodermal features to detect mind wandering, of 0.80 when using only eye-movement features, and of 0.83 when using both. Our findings pave the way for building applications which automatically detect events of mind wandering during reading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Brishtel
- German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Trippstadter Str. 122, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany; (S.I.); (A.D.)
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Computer Science, Erwin-Schrödinger-Str. 57, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Anam Ahmad Khan
- School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia; (A.A.K.); (T.D.)
| | - Thomas Schmidt
- TU Kaiserslautern, Center for Cognitive Science, Erwin-Schrödinger-Str. 57, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany;
| | - Tilman Dingler
- School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia; (A.A.K.); (T.D.)
| | - Shoya Ishimaru
- German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Trippstadter Str. 122, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany; (S.I.); (A.D.)
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Computer Science, Erwin-Schrödinger-Str. 57, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Andreas Dengel
- German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Trippstadter Str. 122, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany; (S.I.); (A.D.)
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Computer Science, Erwin-Schrödinger-Str. 57, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
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Zhang Y, Kumada T. Automatic detection of mind wandering in a simulated driving task with behavioral measures. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207092. [PMID: 30419060 PMCID: PMC6231636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mind wandering (MW) is extremely common during driving and is often accompanied by performance losses. This study investigated the use of driving behavior measurements to automatically detect mind wandering state in the driving task. In the experiment, participants (N = 40) performed a car-following task in a driving simulator and reported, upon hearing a tone, whether they were experiencing mind wandering or not. Supervised machine learning techniques were applied to classify MW-absent versus MW-present state, using both driver-independent and driver-dependent modeling methods. In the driver-independent modeling, we separately built models for participants with high or low MW and participants with medium MW. The optimal models can not offer a significant improvement than other models. So building effective driver-independent models with the leave-one-participant-out cross-validation method is challenging. In the driver-dependent modeling, we built models for each participant with medium MW. The best models of some participants were effective. The results indicate the development of mind wandering detecting system should take into account both inter-individual and intra-individual difference. This study provides a step toward minimizing the negative impacts of mindless driving and should benefit other fields of psychological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyu Zhang
- Department of Intelligence Science and Technology, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takatsune Kumada
- Department of Intelligence Science and Technology, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
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12
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Denkova E, Brudner EG, Zayan K, Dunn J, Jha AP. Attenuated Face Processing during Mind Wandering. J Cogn Neurosci 2018; 30:1691-1703. [DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Mind wandering (MW) has been recently investigated in many studies. It has been suggested that, during MW, processing of perceptual stimuli is attenuated in favor of internal thoughts, a phenomenon referred to as perceptual decoupling. Perceptual decoupling has been investigated in ERP studies, which have used relatively simple perceptual stimuli, yet it remains unclear if MW can impact the perceptual processing of complex stimuli with real-world relevance. Here, we investigated the impact of MW on behavioral and neural responses to faces. Thirty-six participants completed a novel sustained attention to response task with faces. They were asked to respond to upright faces (nontargets) and withhold responses to inverted faces (targets) and to report intermittently if they were “On task” or “Off task.” Behavioral analyses revealed greater intraindividual coefficient of variation for nontarget faces preceding Off task versus On task. ERP analyses focused primarily on the N170 component associated with face processing but also included the P1 and P3 components. The results revealed attenuated amplitudes to nontarget faces preceding Off task versus On task for the N170, but not for the P3 or P1. These findings suggest decoupled visual processing of faces during MW, which has implications for social neuroscience research.
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13
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Spangler DP, Friedman BH. A Little Goes a Long Way: Low Working Memory Load Is Associated with Optimal Distractor Inhibition and Increased Vagal Control under Anxiety. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:43. [PMID: 28217091 PMCID: PMC5289964 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety impairs both inhibition of distraction and attentional focus. It is unclear whether these impairments are reduced or exacerbated when loading working memory with non-affective information. Cardiac vagal control has been related to top-down regulation of anxiety; therefore, vagal control may reflect load-related inhibition of distraction under anxiety. The present study examined whether: (1) the enhancing and impairing effects of load on inhibition exist together in a non-linear function, (2) there is a similar association between inhibition and concurrent vagal control under anxiety. During anxiogenic threat-of-noise, 116 subjects maintained a digit series of varying lengths (0, 2, 4, and 6 digits) while completing a visual flanker task. The task was broken into four blocks, with a baseline period preceding each. Electrocardiography was acquired throughout to quantify vagal control as high-frequency heart rate variability (HRV). There were significant quadratic relations of working memory load to flanker performance and to HRV, but no associations between HRV and performance. Results indicate that low load was associated with relatively better inhibition and increased HRV. These findings suggest that attentional performance under anxiety depends on the availability of working memory resources, which might be reflected by vagal control. These results have implications for treating anxiety disorders, in which regulation of anxiety can be optimized for attentional focus.
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Smallwood J, Schooler JW. The Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness. Annu Rev Psychol 2015; 66:487-518. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 785] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Smallwood
- Department of Psychology, The University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD United Kingdom;
| | - Jonathan W. Schooler
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
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15
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Biggs AT, Kreager RD, Davoli CC. Finding a link between guided search and perceptual load theory. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2014.987676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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16
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Makovski T, Hommel B, Humphreys G. Early and late selection: effects of load, dilution and salience. Front Psychol 2014; 5:248. [PMID: 24688481 PMCID: PMC3960578 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tal Makovski
- Department of Psychology, The Open University of Israel Raanana, Israel
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Glyn Humphreys
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University Oxford, UK
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