Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Modeling mind-wandering: A tool to better understand distraction

  • ICS/University of Groningen
  • PSL research University & IPSL

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

When we get distracted, we may engage in mind-wandering, or task-unrelated thinking, which impairs performance on cognitive tasks. Yet, we do not have cognitive models that make this process explicit. On the basis of both recent experiments that have started to investigate mind-wandering and introspective knowledge from for example meditators, we built a process model of distraction in the form of mind-wandering. We then tested the model by predicting performance on tasks used in mind-wandering studies. We showed that we could both predict task performance as well as the participants' responses to questions about what they were thinking about. This improved understanding of mind-wandering could be used in the future to revise our models of when, how, and why distraction occurs. For example, our model could be used to examine how the effect of distraction on task performance depends on the type of mind-wandering (e.g., rumination versus day-dreaming).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of ICCM 2015 - 13th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling
EditorsNiels A. Taatgen, Marieke K. van Vugt, Jelmer P. Borst, Katja Mehlhorn
PublisherUniversity of Groningen
Pages252-257
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9789036777636
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015
Event13th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling, ICCM 2015 - Groningen, Netherlands
Duration: 9 Apr 201511 Apr 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of ICCM 2015 - 13th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling

Conference

Conference13th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling, ICCM 2015
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityGroningen
Period9/04/1511/04/15

Keywords

  • ACT-R
  • Distraction
  • Meditation
  • Mind-wandering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Modeling mind-wandering: A tool to better understand distraction'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this