ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2014, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (9): 1435-1445.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2014.01435

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Mind Wandering: Theoretical Hypotheses, Influential Factors and Neural Mechanisms

CHENG Kai; CAO Guikang   

  1. (Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)
  • Received:2013-12-19 Online:2014-09-15 Published:2014-09-15
  • Contact: CAO Guikang,Email: cgk@swu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Focusing on the question of why our minds wander, this paper first introduces two theoretical hypotheses of mind wandering: the decoupling hypothesis and the executive-control failure hypothesis. Afterwards we discuss the factors that may influence mind wandering and the neural mechanisms of mind wandering. Lastly, we propose something we should do in future studies: focus on the potential functions of mind wandering to develop theoretical hypotheses; integrate factors that may influence mind wandering into a model that can help us to better understand the comprehensive impacts of these factors; use a simultaneous EEG-fMRI technique to more accurately explore the neural mechanisms of mind wandering. In addition, research into specific groups’ mind wandering and cross-cultural research of mind wandering are also needed.

Key words: mind wandering, decoupling hypothesis, executive-control failure hypothesis, ERP, fMRI