Mind Wandering: Tracking perceptual decoupling, mental improvisation, and mental navigation

Óscar F. Gonçalves*, Mariana Dias Da Silva, Sandra Carvalho, Patrícia Coelho, Alberto Lema, Augusto J. Mendes, Diogo Branco, Jorge Collus, Paulo S. Boggio, Jorge Leite

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    9 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: Mind wandering is a prevalent phenomenon. However, the concept of mind wandering is associated with distinct and often orthogonal concepts, and researchers are still debating the best strategies to gain access to mind-wandering processes. Nonetheless, there is a progressive acknowledgment that mind wandering is a multidimensional and heterogeneous construct. We argue that to fully understand mind wandering, we need to look at dimensions assessing the process (i.e., perceptual decoupling), dynamics (i.e., mental improvisation), and content (i.e., mental navigation). Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a self-report measure of mind wandering-the Mind Wandering Inventory (MWI)-to capture the heterogeneity of mind wandering in terms of process, dynamic, and content components. Method: Five language versions of the MWI were administered to an international sample of 1,162 individuals. Results: Results showed that the MWI had good levels of internal consistency. In terms of internal structure, we found a first factor to index perceptual decoupling, a second to index mental improvisation, and a third to index mental navigation. Additionally, a study of concurrent validity with Spontaneous and Deliberate Mind Wandering scales suggested that MWI has significant correlations with previous mind-wandering scales and that factors 1 (perceptual decoupling) and 2 (mental improvisation) seemed to be more closely associated with spontaneous than deliberate mind wandering. Finally, individuals coming from sciences major background reported increased levels of mind wandering when compared with participants from both health, social and human sciences background.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)493–502
    Number of pages10
    JournalPsychology & Neuroscience
    Volume13
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Keywords

    • Mind wandering
    • Perceptual Decoupling
    • Mental improvisation
    • Mental navigation

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