@article{ref1,
title="Fluctuating minds: spontaneous psychophysical variability during mind-wandering",
journal="PLoS one",
year="2016",
author="Henríquez, Rodrigo A. and Chica, Ana B. and Billeke, Pablo and Bartolomeo, Paolo",
volume="11",
number="2",
pages="e0147174-e0147174",
abstract="Mind-wandering is the occasional distraction we experience while performing a cognitive task. It arises without any external precedent, varies over time, and interferes with the processing of sensory information. Here, we asked whether the transition from the on-task state to mind-wandering is a gradual process or an abrupt event. We developed a new experimental approach, based on the continuous, online assessment of individual psychophysical performance. Probe questions were asked whenever response times (RTs) exceeded 2 standard deviations from the participant's average RT. <br><br>RESULTS showed that mind-wandering reports were generally preceded by slower RTs, as compared to trials preceding on-task reports. Mind-wandering episodes could be reliably predicted from the response time difference between the last and the second-to-last trials. Thus, mind-wandering reports follow an abrupt increase in behavioral variability, lasting between 2.5 and 10 seconds.  Keywords: Driver distraction <p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1932-6203",
doi="10.1371/journal.pone.0147174",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0147174"
}