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Mind-Wandering Across the Age Gap: Age-Related Differences in Mind-Wandering Are Partially Attributable to Age-Related Differences in Motivation

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Seli
  • Kevin O’Neill
  • Jonathan S A Carriere
  • Daniel Smilek
  • Roger E Beaty
  • Daniel L Schacter
  • Angela Gutchess

Abstract

ObjectivesA common finding in the mind-wandering literature is that older adults (OAs) tend to mind-wander less frequently than young adults (YAs). Here, we sought to determine whether this age-related difference in mind-wandering is attributable to age-related differences in motivation.MethodYAs and OAs completed an attention task during which they responded to thought probes that assessed rates of mind-wandering, and they provided self-reports of task-based motivation before and after completion of the attention task.ResultsAge-related differences in mind-wandering are partially explained by differences in motivation, and motivating YAs via incentive diminishes mind-wandering differences across these groups.DiscussionWe consider these results in the context of theories on age-related differences in mind wandering, with a specific focus on their relevance to the recently proposed motivational account of such age-related differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Seli & Kevin O’Neill & Jonathan S A Carriere & Daniel Smilek & Roger E Beaty & Daniel L Schacter & Angela Gutchess, 2021. "Mind-Wandering Across the Age Gap: Age-Related Differences in Mind-Wandering Are Partially Attributable to Age-Related Differences in Motivation," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(7), pages 1264-1271.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:76:y:2021:i:7:p:1264-1271.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaa031
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