| Mind wandering is referred to the phenomenon that attention drifts from its current train of thought (often an external task) to mental content generated by the individual, is a ubiquitous psychological in daily life.previous studies mainly focused on the cost of mind wandering.However, with the deeper understanding of mind wandering, recent studies revealed that mind wandering also has its positive functions. We put the function of complex problem solving as a breakthrough to research the positive function of the mind wandering. Our study was designed to answer two questions:1)whether performance on complex problem solving can be facilitated by engaging in mind wandering? 2) if mind wandering really have this function,what factor will affect this function?Studyl we investigate whether mind wandering can facilitate complex problem solving and whether the individuals characteristics of executive function (EF) effect this function by two experiments. In study la, we controlled the frequence of mind wandering by setting different task demanding conditions and it showed that in high EF group, compared with the conscious thinkers, the participants who were distracted with the low demanding task made the better decision.In low EF group exhibited opposite trend to high EF group in the relationship with task type and problem solving quality:under conscious thought condition, individuals with low EF made better decision. Study lb tested the frequence of mind wandering by inserting the thought probes, found that the mind wandering in low demanding task condition can facilitate complex problem solving in high EF individuals. While for low EF individuals, the mind wandering in task will damage the complex problem solving. Executive function moderated the relationship with mind wandering and complex problem solving. Based on the result of studyl, we explored the effect of goal-direction to the complex problem solving of mind wandering by setting two conditions with goal-direction or not in study 2.The result showed that compared with the participants without goal-direction,the participants with goal-direction made a better decision on complex problem solving.We got the main research conclusions as follows:1) Mind wandering in the distraction task can promote complex problem solving under the guarantee of executive function.2) the goal-direction to the complex problem solving contributes to the generation of Mind-Wandering Effect.Our study provided a new perspective for the study of The-Distraction-Task Demanding-Effect in The Deliberation-Without-Attention Effect, that is, except the unconscious thought, mind wandering can also be a powerful tool to facilitate complex problem solving. |
