Mind wandering (MW) has been defined as the brain's default mode of operation. It is a common experience, however, that this process can become maladaptive, and take the form of repetitive thoughts. We aimed to compare the cardiac and cognitive correlates of perseverative cognition (PC) and MW. Seventy-three healthy participants were engaged in two recall interviews designed to draw their attention to a neutral and a personally relevant negative episode. After each interview, participants performed a 20-min tracking task with thought probe while the electrocardiogram was continuously recorded. Perseverative cognition was associated with higher levels of cognitive inflexibility (slower reaction times, highest intrusiveness, efforts to inhibit), autonomic rigidity (low heart rate variability), and mood worsening compared to being focused on task or MW. Results suggest that MW fails to serve its adaptive function, and turns into a risk factor for health whenever it becomes a rigid and inflexible pattern (PC). (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
Flexibility as the key for somatic health: From mind wandering to perseverative cognition / Ottaviani, Cristina; David, Shapiro; Couyoumdjian, Alessandro. - In: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY. - ISSN 0301-0511. - 94:1(2013), pp. 38-43. [10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.05.003]
Flexibility as the key for somatic health: From mind wandering to perseverative cognition
OTTAVIANI, CRISTINA;COUYOUMDJIAN, Alessandro
2013
Abstract
Mind wandering (MW) has been defined as the brain's default mode of operation. It is a common experience, however, that this process can become maladaptive, and take the form of repetitive thoughts. We aimed to compare the cardiac and cognitive correlates of perseverative cognition (PC) and MW. Seventy-three healthy participants were engaged in two recall interviews designed to draw their attention to a neutral and a personally relevant negative episode. After each interview, participants performed a 20-min tracking task with thought probe while the electrocardiogram was continuously recorded. Perseverative cognition was associated with higher levels of cognitive inflexibility (slower reaction times, highest intrusiveness, efforts to inhibit), autonomic rigidity (low heart rate variability), and mood worsening compared to being focused on task or MW. Results suggest that MW fails to serve its adaptive function, and turns into a risk factor for health whenever it becomes a rigid and inflexible pattern (PC). (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.