Studies in the Stream of Consciousness: Experimental Enhancement and Suppression of Spontaneous Cognitive Processes
J. Antrobus, J. Singer, S. Greenberg
Perceptual and Motor Skills October 1, 1966 DOI: 10.1177/003151256602300212 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 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.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychology |
| Key finding | Faster signal presentation, higher memory demands, and graded financial rewards reduced task-irrelevant cognitive activity, while distressing information increased it. |
Abstract
A model is proposed for relating production of spontaneous cognitive events such as daydreams to the organism's continuous response to external stimuli. Employing a simple signal-detection task under conditions of partial sensory deprivation, a series of experiments were carried out to test specific predictions from the model. In one experiment increasing speed of signal presentation or demands upon short-term memory both significantly reduced reports of task-irrelevant cognitive activity and imagery. In a second experiment graded financial reward for accuracy of detection led to progressive decrease in extraneous fantasies. In a third experiment distressing information prior to the trials significantly increased reports of spontaneous daydreaming during detection performance.