Albrecht, Vivien; (2025) Attention, Mind Wandering and Motivation: Effects of Perceptual Capacity and Cognitive Aging. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

Text Vivien Albrecht - PhD Thesis_Edited.pdf - Published Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 1 July 2026. Download (8MB)

Abstract

Our minds frequently wander off task. Mind wandering (MW) can lead to a state of ‘perceptual decoupling’, which involves attenuation of neural responses related to perception, resulting in task-performance costs. This thesis tested predictions derived from the hypothesis that perceptual decoupling arises because MW and perception share a limited pool of resources, which attention serves to allocate to either the task or MW. Chapters 1-2 tested the prediction that a person’s perceptual capacity determines the effects of perceptual decoupling, so that resource competition between MW and perception should only occur when task demands exceed perceptual capacity and therefore require full attention. Perceptual capacity was measured based on the phenomenon of subitizing: the rapid perception of small numbers that occurs in parallel across all items within capacity. The results demonstrated that MW increased errors beyond–but not within–subitizing capacity (Chapter 2). Chapter 3 used EEG to compare evoked response potentials (ERP) related to number perception between blocks of numbers within, and those beyond, subitizing capacity. Increased perceptual demand in the beyond (vs. within) capacity blocks was indicated with a larger N1 ERP amplitude. MW significantly reduced this effect. Thus, Chapters 2-3 findings demonstrate that MW-induced perceptual decoupling is greater when task-demands exceed perceptual capacity. Chapters 4-5 extended the research to establish the effects of aging on perceptual capacity, MW, and distractibility. Results revealed reduced perceptual capacity in older adults, which interacts with task-demands on processing-speed (Chapter 4). Both MW rates and distractor-interference effects were reduced at a lower level of perceptual load in older (versus younger) adults, despite age-related increase in task motivation, further demonstrating reduced perceptual capacity (Chapter 5). Overall, this thesis clarifies the relation of MW to perceptual capacity, as well as the effects of aging on task motivation and perceptual capacity, and the consequences for MW and distractibility.

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