Mind Wandering Differences Between Younger and Older Adults: A New Neurocognitive Framework
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Despite age-related executive functioning declines, older adults report mind wandering less than younger adults. This thesis behaviourally tested a new neurocognitive framework for the mechanisms behind this discrepancy. The framework focuses on age-related changes in the dorsal attention network, default mode network, and fronto-parietal control network. Younger and older adults performed the sustained attention to response task in an MRI scanner. Mind wandering was inferred from commission errors and response time (RT) patterns. RT patterns were analyzed with an ex-Gaussian model, producing three ex-Gaussian parameters (mu, sigma, tau), and by examining pre-error speeding and post-error slowing. Younger adults demonstrated greater tau values and pre-error speeding than older adults, suggesting more frequent mind wandering. Only younger adults demonstrated a positive relationship between tau and commission errors, suggesting that mind wandering drove more commission errors in younger adults. Similarly, a positive correlation between mu and sigma was only found in younger adults.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: John Bryan Eusebio
Language: English
Topic: Mind wandering and attention
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2767870701