Individual Differences Of Mind Wandering And Its Neural Corelates

Mind-wandering refers to ongoing mentation which occurs spontaneously,and largely autonomously,whenever an awake individual is not engaged in a cognitively demanding task.Currently,for the ease of understanding,researcher used to compare mind-wandering to "wander"、"daydreaming"、"distraction" and so on.In fact, as consciousness experience which is endogenous spontaneous,mind-wandering has much richer connotation and more unique neural mechanisms.Even though there are study which find that mind-wandering has a lot of similarities with distraction.For example,they both are affected by perception load,and have a great individual differences.This study suggest that mind-wandering can not be simply equaled with attentional state,mind-wandering has more stable individual difference,the neural mechanism behind mind-wandering is even more fascinating.In view of this, the study carried out in two steps.The first study based on huge individual difference of mind-wandering,by strictly controlling multiple perceptual load conditions,to test if individuals who has different tendency in mind-wandering may behave different or has stable individual difference in multiple load conditions.The second study based on the first study,by integrating with functional brain imaging technique, it comes from the trait of the mind-wander to explore neural basis of individual difference in mind-wandering from the strength of brain activation and functional connection.Conclusions:1.The huge and stable individual difference in mind-wandering originate from the difference of traits.2.Mind-wandering frequency questionnaire is an effective measurement tool to assess tendency of mind-wandering.3.As a individual trait,mind-wandering itself can not be evaluated good or bad.4.The brain regions that is related to mind-wandering include the posterior cingulate, medial frontal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, precuneus, temporal lobe on both sides and set lobular areas.5.Posterior cingulate, medial frontal gyrus, temporal lobe, parahippocampal and so on positivity connectivity, while simultaneously, the occipital, parietal and part of frontal are suppressed is the neural basis of individual differences of mind wandering.