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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults

Published on: October 19, 2014

Testing the attention-distractibility trait.

¹Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University, Room 302I, Killian Bldg., Cullowhee, NC, 28723, USA. mmeier@wcu.edu.

Memory & Cognition

|March 12, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study investigated the link between distraction, mind-wandering, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Findings suggest that task-irrelevant distraction and working memory capacity are not strongly linked to mind-wandering or ADHD symptoms.

Keywords:

Attention Cognitive trait Distraction Individual differences Replication

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Individual Differences

Background:

Previous research suggested a link between task-irrelevant distraction, mind-wandering, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomology.
This led to the proposal of an "attention-distractibility trait.

Purpose of the Study:

To differentiate the association of task-irrelevant distraction with mind-wandering and ADHD symptoms from working memory capacity and task-relevant distraction.
To assess the reliability of task-irrelevant distraction as an individual difference measure.

Main Methods:

Collected data from 226 subjects using an antisaccade task to measure task-relevant distraction.
Administered a stand-alone questionnaire and in-task thought probes to measure mind-wandering.
Assessed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomology and working memory capacity.

Main Results:

Task-irrelevant distraction and working memory capacity showed weak or no association with mind-wandering and ADHD symptoms.
Task-relevant interference was linked to in-task mind-wandering reports but not questionnaire-based measures or ADHD symptoms.
The measure of irrelevant distraction demonstrated low internal consistency.

Conclusions:

The proposed "attention-distractibility trait" may not be solely explained by task-irrelevant distraction.
Working memory capacity and task-relevant distraction do not appear to be primary drivers of mind-wandering or ADHD symptomology.
Further research is needed to validate measures of distraction as reliable individual difference indicators.