The Impact Of Self-Reference Process On Mind Wandering

Mind wandering refers to the situation in which we focus on thoughts and internal feelings that are unrelated to current activity. Mind wandering is operated as task unrelated thoughts which can be divided into zoning out and tuning out. Behavior index of mind wandering comprise errors of commission, errors of omission, anticipatory response, reaction time and RT variability. This study adapts SART, examining the impact of self-reference process on mind wandering,and explore the impact under different cognitive load.Experiment 1, we used single factor design within subjects, with self-reference level( high self-reference, middle self-reference and familiar stimulation) as independent variables, and subjective index of mind wandering and behavioral index of mind wandering as dependent variables. We expected that self-reference process would influence mind wandering. The results found that compared to other stimulus, high self-reference stimulus produced lower mind wandering.Experiment 2, we adapted 3(self-reference level: high self-reference, middle self-reference and familiar stimulation) x 2(cognitive load: high, low) two factors mixed design. Operated the working memory load of experimental task, we wanted to explore the impact of self-reference process on mind wandering under different cognitive load. The results found that cognitive load significantly modulate the influence of self-reference process on mind wandering. Under low cognitive load condition, higher self-reference stimulus produced low zoning out, but this is not the case of high cognitive load condition. Under high cognitive load condition, higher self-reference stimulus produced higher tuning out, lower anticipatory response and RT variability, but this is not the case of low cognitive load condition.The results proved that self-reference process influenced mind wandering. Higher self reference stimulus produced less mind wandering. This impact is regulated by the cognitive load.