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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Applications of EEG Neuroimaging Data: Event-related Potentials, Spectral Power, and Multiscale Entropy

Applications of EEG Neuroimaging Data: Event-related Potentials, Spectral Power, and Multiscale Entropy

Published on: June 27, 2013

EEG complexity during mind wandering: A multiscale entropy investigation.

Kelsey Cnudde¹, Gahyun Kim¹, W Spencer Murch²

¹Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4.

Neuropsychologia

|January 9, 2023

Summary

Mind wandering alters brain signal complexity across different timescales and brain regions. These changes in electroencephalography (EEG) complexity are context-dependent, impacting cognitive performance.

Keywords:

EEG complexity Global processing Local processing Mind wandering Multiscale entropy

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Published on: June 27, 2013

Using Wavelet Entropy to Demonstrate how Mindfulness Practice Increases Coordination between Irregular Cerebral and Cardiac Activities

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Microstate and Omega Complexity Analyses of the Resting-state Electroencephalography

Microstate and Omega Complexity Analyses of the Resting-state Electroencephalography

Published on: June 15, 2018

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Electrophysiology
Brain Signal Analysis

Background:

Mind wandering, or task-unrelated thoughts, is a common cognitive phenomenon.
Previous research identified electrophysiological correlates like event-related potentials (ERP) and spectral patterns.
The impact of mind wandering on electroencephalography (EEG) signal complexity remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how mind wandering affects EEG signal complexity.
To examine timescale-dependent and context-dependent effects of mind wandering.
To explore differences in complexity during global versus local processing tasks.

Main Methods:

Recorded participants' EEG during Navon's global and local processing tasks.
Participants intermittently reported on-task or mind wandering states.
Analyzed EEG signal complexity using multiscale entropy across varying timescales.

Main Results:

Mind wandering decreased complexity at medium timescales (centro-parietal regions) and increased complexity at coarse timescales (anterior/posterior regions) during global processing.
Global processing exhibited higher complexity at fine to medium timescales compared to local processing.
Behavioral accuracy was lower during mind wandering, specifically in the local processing condition.

Conclusions:

Changes in brain signal complexity across timescales are a significant feature of mind wandering.
Mind wandering's effects on EEG complexity are context-dependent, varying with processing level (global vs. local).
These findings offer new insights into the neural underpinnings of attentional states.