Psychological Development and Education ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3): 367-377.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.03.14

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Mind-wandering: Phenomenon, Mechanism and Implications

WANG Xuefeng, YAN Yan   

  1. School of Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • Published:2020-06-02

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Abstract: Mind-wandering is a common everyday experience for everyone, which refers to a shift of attention away from a primary task toward internal trains of thought. Given the spontaneous and subjective nature of MW, existing measurements typically rely on subjective reports, and some behavioral markers, electro-physiological measures and neurocognitive activity measurements have also been applied to the assessment of MW. After reviewing the studies about the dichotomy of mind-wandering, its negative results and potential functions, we discussed three recent theoretical perspectives proposed to explain how MW occur and its relationship with executive control: executive-resource hypothesis, control-failure hypothesis and resource control account. A more detailed distinction of the concept of MW in the future and a possible combination of metacognitive monitoring theories will provide not only concrete recommendations to learners and instruction, but new insights into consciousness, attention, and metacognition as well.

Key words: mind-wandering, thought sampling, executive-resource hypothesis, control-failure hypothesis, resource control account, metacognition

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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