Tuned In or Zoned Out: Investigating the Influence of Meta-Awareness in Mind Wandering on Working Memory under Varying Task Difficulty

Hanna Niedl

Abstract:

Mind wandering, the shift of attention from external tasks to internal thoughts (Smallwood & Schooler, 2014), affects executive functioning, particularly working memory. While traditional theories explain its mechanisms and relationship to task difficulty, they often overlook distinctions between different mind wandering states. However, it has been suggested that mind wandering is not a singular process but a multidimensional phenomenon, with meta-awareness being a key factor (Seli et al., 2018b). This study was inspired by Smallwood et al. (2007), who demonstrated that EF task performance differs depending on whether mind wandering occurs with or without meta-awareness. This study aimed to investigate how the presence or absence of meta-awareness in mind wandering influences working memory performance under varying levels of cognitive demand. Participants completed an n-back task with experience sampling probes to assess their attentional state. Results revealed that working memory performance was highest when participants were on task, followed by tuning out, and lowest during zoning out episodes, but this pattern was more pronounced under low task difficulty. Contrary to predictions, participants performed better under high than under low task difficulty. These findings ultimately contribute to the growing understanding of mind wandering and executive functioning, supporting the idea that meta-awareness plays a crucial role in mitigating the negative impact of mind wandering on performance.

Furthermore, they challenge existing theoretical assumptions about task difficulty, highlighting the need for more nuanced models.