The Allocation of Attentional Resources: Exploring Fluctuations in Mind Wandering with Variation in Performance and Depression

The present study investigated mechanisms that increase mind-wandering, specifically task-related requirements and individual differences in depression. Mind-wandering increased and sustained-attention performance decreased with time-on-task; however, mind-wandering did not increase as a function of worsening performance with time-on-task. Participants reporting depression also reported more mind-wandering when their overall performance was worse.