Studies in the Stream of Consciousness: Experimental Enhancement and Suppression of Spontaneous Cognitive Processes
Perceptual and Motor Skills October 1, 1966 J. Antrobus, J. Singer, S. Greenberg
A model links spontaneous cognitive events like daydreams to ongoing responses to external stimuli. In experiments using a simple signal-detection task under partial sensory deprivation, faster signal presentation or higher short-term memory demands significantly reduced reports of task-irrelevant thoughts and imagery. Graded financial rewards for accurate detection progressively decreased extraneous fantasies. Distressing information given before trials significantly increased reports of spontaneous daydreaming during the detection task.