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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
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Working memory capacity and (in)voluntary mind wandering.
Alexander Soemer1, Ulrich Schiefele2
1Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany. alexander@soemurai.de.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|April 26, 2020
Summary
High working memory capacity (WMC) reduces both voluntary and involuntary mind wandering (MW). This finding suggests WMC is crucial for maintaining focus and improving reading performance by limiting off-task thoughts.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Working memory capacity (WMC) is thought to control off-task thought during demanding tasks.
- Prior research linked WMC primarily to reduced involuntary mind wandering (MW).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between WMC and voluntary MW.
- To determine if WMC influences both voluntary and involuntary MW and reading performance.
Main Methods:
- 180 participants completed a demanding reading task with random attentional probes.
- Working memory capacity was assessed using operation span and symmetry span tasks.
Main Results:
- WMC was negatively correlated with both voluntary and involuntary MW.
- Both types of MW partially mediated the positive effect of WMC on reading performance.
- The link between WMC and reduced voluntary MW persisted even when controlling for interest.
Conclusions:
- High WMC is associated with lower levels of both voluntary and involuntary MW.
- WMC plays a significant role in regulating both types of mind wandering, impacting cognitive performance.
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