Wandering Minds and Working Memory: EEG Correlates of Mind-Wandering in a Cognitively Demanding Task Context

Brouwer, Merlijn (2025) Wandering Minds and Working Memory: EEG Correlates of Mind-Wandering in a Cognitively Demanding Task Context. Bachelor's Thesis, Artificial Intelligence.

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Abstract

For up to half of our waking life, our mind’s attention is distracted from our immediate environment. Investigating the neural correlates of mind-wandering could provide insights into the nature of this mental state, as well as a method of detecting it without relying on introspection. Previous studies have used EEG to compare oscillatory patterns between mind-wandering and on-task states in simple tasks. Few studies have investigated the neural patterns that characterize mind-wandering in a more demanding task environment. In the current study, EEG recordings were obtained while participants completed a complex working memory task, during which thought-probes were used to detect mind-wandering. Consistent with previous research, mind-wandering occurred in about half of the trials, and task performance was worse during mind-wandering. Mind-wandering was characterized by an increase in oscillatory power in the delta, theta, and alpha frequency bands, and a decrease in beta power. Although these results are in line with the literature, none of the effects were significant after correcting for multiple tests. More research is therefore needed to clarify the neural signature of mind-wandering in a high-demand task context.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Vugt, M.K. van and Huang, Y. and Sheng, S.
Degree programme:	Artificial Intelligence
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	07 Jul 2025 12:09
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2025 12:09
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/35903

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