Mind Wandering and Working Memory
One important question facing the study of mind-wandering is how it relates to working memory capacity. Generally, reports of task unrelated thought are less frequent when performing tasks that do not demand continuous use of working memory than when performing tasks which do. Moreover, individual difference studies demonstrate that when tasks are non-demanding, high levels of working memory capacity are associated with more frequent reports of task unrelated thinking especially when it is focused on the future . By contrast, when performing tasks that demand continuous external attention, high levels of working memory capacity are associated with fewer reports of task unrelated thought. Together these data are consistent with the claim that working memory capacity helps sustain a train of thought whether it is generated in response to an perceptual event or is self-generated by the individual themselves. Thus, at least under certain circumstances, the experience of mind-wandering is supported by working memory resources .
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