Mind wandering and reading in Chinese : language processing during attention lapses

Abstract

This thesis examined the profile of semantic processing during mind wandering. Mind wandering is essentially a shift of attention from the external environment to inner experiences, which happens frequently and occupies around half of daily lives and the time spent in reading. The decoupling theory and cascade model of inattention suggest that during mind-wandering episodes of reading, degraded perceptual representation will prevent detailed lexical processing, which will then impair the creation of the situational model of the narrative. Here the semantic processing of single Chinese characters during mind-wandering episodes is examined. Different behavioral measures are used to evaluate how semantic retrieval and maintenance are influenced during attentional lapses. In study 1, the availability of different indices of mind-wandering reports was evaluated. In study 2, a Stroop task was employed to show that semantic retrieval is not affected during mind-wandering episodes. In study 3, a semantic variation of sustained attention to response task was employed to replicate the results from study 2 and extend the results to a broad sample of Chinese characters. In study 4, a one back version of the sustained attention to categorical response task used in study 3 was employed showing that the short-term maintenance of retrieved semantic information was insufficient during mind-wandering episodes, especially those without a person’s awareness. The current results were in accordance with previous literature and showed that semantic retrieval may proceed automatically without a person being attentive. It is proposed that semantic retrieval is preserved during mind wandering. However, short-term maintenance of retrieved semantic information, which is critical in concatenating the lexical semantics into a valid propositional model, is adversely affected. This proposal is incorporated in a modified cascade model of inattention to explain relevant phenomena for mind wandering while reading. This new framework suggests that lexical processing may be intact, yet the working memory resources important for establishing propositional model may be directed away from the task. A few implications for application and directions for future research are also discussed.