External distractions or more mind wandering? : Evaluating a recent model of conscious thoughts
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Joshua Perkins (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Michael Kane
Abstract: Mind wandering is a very exciting topic in cognitive science, and as such, different researchers have come up with different hypotheses and models to explain it. One model, introduced by Stawarczyk, Majerus, Maj, Van der Linden, and D’Argembeau in 2011, conceptualizes conscious thoughts along the two dimensions of task-relatedness and stimulus-dependency. From these two dimensions they generated a four-way model of thoughts, including mind wandering and external distractions. The current study aimed to evaluate this model, particularly regarding the empirical distinction between mind wandering and external distractions, by using confirmatory factor analyses to see how external distractions and mind wandering relate to one another and to other variables, such as working memory capacity and attentional restraint. It was found that the distinction made by Stawarczyk and colleagues – especially regarding the inclusion of interoceptive stimuli with external distractions – did not seem to hold up.
External distractions or more mind wandering? : Evaluating a recent model of conscious thoughts
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Created on 6/2/2015
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Honors Project
- Language: English
- Date: 2015
- Keywords
- psychology, mind wandering, external distractions, executive control,