Commonalities Between Mind Wandering and Task Switching: An Event-Related Potential Study

Abstract

Previous research has established that mind wandering does not necessarily disrupt one’s task-switching performance. Here we tested, using event-related potentials (ERPs), the possibility that mind wandering during task switching does not disrupt switching-related mental processes but rather promotes them. In the current study, a final sample of 16 young adults performed a task-switching paradigm while electroencephalography was continuously recorded; mind wandering was assessed via thought probes at the end of each block. Consistent with previous research, behavioral results indicated that switching performance was not disrupted by mind wandering (evidenced by response times). The ERP results showed that at the Pz electrode, P300 amplitude was higher for self-reported mind-wandering switch trials than self-reported on-task switch trials, thus opposing the typical pattern of P300 attenuation during periods of mind wandering relative to on-task episodes. Considering that increased P300 amplitude during higher-order switch trials (e.g., response rule switching) may reflect the implementation of new higher-order task sets/rules, the current findings seem to indicate similar, yet distinguishable, executive control processes underlie mind wandering and task switching, providing further evidence in favor of a role for switching in mind wandering.

The Role of Momentary Dissociation in the Sensory Cortex: A Neurophysiological Review and its Implications for Maladaptive Daydreaming

“…This finding contradicts the typical P3 attenuation observed during mind-wandering episodes. The increased P3 amplitude during higher-order switch trials suggested the involvement of executive control processes in both mind-wandering and task switching, supporting the idea of a connection between attentional switching and mind-wandering [89]. Furthermore, the impact of mind-wandering on the P3 response may not be related to changes in motor activity or general arousal [98].…”

“…However, Wong et al [89] revealed an unexpected pattern in the P3 amplitude during mind-wandering switch trials where P3 amplitudes were greater than those in the on-task switch trials. This finding contradicts the typical P3 attenuation observed during mind-wandering episodes.…”

“…The P3 component, which peaks at approximately 300 ms after stimulus, is commonly believed to reflect working memory updating [86][87][88][89] and simultaneous attentional processing [90][91][92]. Previous studies utilizing stimuli-evoked ERPs [93][94] have consistently demonstrated a typical pattern of decreased P3 amplitude during mind-wandering episodes compared to on-task periods [95][96][97][98].…”