Conducting the train of thought: working memory capacity, goal neglect, and mind wandering in an executive-control task.
On the basis of the executive-attention theory of working memory capacity (WMC; e.g., M. J. Kane, A. R. A. Conway, D. Z. Hambrick, & R. W. Engle, 2007), the authors tested the relations among WMC, mind wandering, and goal neglect in a sustained attention to response task (SART; a go/no-go task). In 3 SART versions, making conceptual versus perceptual processing demands, subjects periodically indicated their thought content when probed following rare no-go targets. SART processing demands did not affect mind-wandering rates, but mind-wandering rates varied with WMC and predicted goal-neglect errors in the task; furthermore, mind-wandering rates partially mediated the WMC-SART relation, indicating that WMC-related differences in goal neglect were due, in part, to variation in the control of conscious thought.
McVay
Jennifer C
JC
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina.
Kane
Michael J
MJ
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013663:Teaching; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult