Mind wandering enhances predictive processing

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the potential adaptive aspects of mind wandering (MW), a common phenomenon in which individuals shift their attention from external tasks to internal thoughts. Despite the well-documented negative effects of MW on cognitive performance and links to psychiatric conditions, there is a scarcity of direct evidence of its potential benefits. In our preregistered study, we simultaneously assessed visuomotor task performance as well as the capability to extract probabilistic information from the environment while assessing task focus (on-task vs. MW). We found that MW facilitated the extraction of hidden, but predictable patterns from a stream of visual inputs. Moreover, MW influenced speed/accuracy tradeoff by shifting participants towards a faster but less accurate response style. These findings suggest that MW may have functional relevance in human cognition and everyday functioning by shaping behavior and predictive processes. Overall, our results highlight the importance of considering the adaptive aspects of MW, and its potential to enhance cognitive abilities.