The troubling science of neurophenomenology.
Experimental brain research September 1, 2018 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4623-7 via PubMed
Summary
Mind-wandering is thought to impair processing of external stimuli through perceptual decoupling, but typical studies rely on self-reports after behavior. An alternative method presented a word before a catch trial; participants later reported awareness of the word, attempted to recognize it, and reported being on- or off-task. Explicit and implicit awareness of the word were independent of self-reported conscious state. This challenges the view that mind-wandering reports indicate perceptual decoupling; instead, such reports may reflect how people explain their behavioral outcomes.
Study at a glance
| Design | experimental study |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Participants' explicit and implicit awareness of a pre-catch trial word is independent of self-reports of conscious state, conflicting with the perspective that mind-wandering reports indicate perceptual decoupling. |
Abstract
Researchers suggest links between mind-wandering and impaired processing of external task stimuli: mind-wandering results in perceptual decoupling. The primary methodology employed to investigate the effects of mind-wandering requires people to report their conscious state and then predicts prior behavior or neurophysiological responses using the person's self-report. Unfortunately, this method employs reports that occur after the behavior occurs. An alternative methodology employs a word displayed prior to a performance check or catch trial. After the catch trial, participants then report their awareness of the word occurring, attempt to recognize the word, and also report whether they were on- or off-task. We show that participants' explicit and implicit awareness of the pre-catch trial word is independent of self-reports of conscious state. This finding conflicts with the perspective that mind-wandering reports indicate perceptual decoupling. Reports of mind-wandering may alternatively be how people explain behavioral outcomes.