Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
10:38
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Inhibitory control and mind wandering; more difficult inhibition decreases mind wandering, within limits
Tiahna Whitfield1, Jordan Wehrman2
1School of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Consciousness and Cognition
|June 25, 2026
Summary
Mind wandering, or attention lapses, decreased with tasks requiring response withholding or more response choices. However, difficulty in suppressing irrelevant information did not affect mind wandering, suggesting inhibitory control plays a key role.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Mind wandering is a common cognitive phenomenon.
- Task engagement, such as reading or difficult tasks, can reduce mind wandering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of inhibitory control in reducing mind wandering.
- To examine three types of inhibitory control: response withholding, response selection, and irrelevant-information suppression.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Go/No-Go task assessing response withholding.
- Experiment 2: Alternative forced choice task assessing response selection.
- Experiment 3: Numerical Stroop task assessing irrelevant-information suppression.
Main Results:
- Mind wandering decreased when participants had to withhold responses (Experiment 1).
- Mind wandering decreased with increased response possibilities (Experiment 2).
- Task difficulty in suppressing irrelevant information did not affect mind wandering (Experiment 3).
Conclusions:
- Inhibitory control, specifically response withholding and selection, can reduce mind wandering.
- The suppression of irrelevant information may not be a primary driver of reduced mind wandering.
- Task difficulty and inhibitory control interact to influence mind wandering episodes.
Related Concept Videos
01:19High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
01:25Self-Regulation
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
00:46Feedback Inhibition
Biochemical reactions are occurring constantly in cells, converting starting substances to different products, usually with the help of enzymes that speed the reactions. Without enzymes, it would take far too long for most reactions to occur to be useful to the cell!
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:24Working Memory
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
01:16Interference and Decay
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...