Abstract
A model is proposed for relating production of spontaneous cognitive events such as daydreams to the organism's continuous response to external stimuli. Employing a simple signal-detection task under conditions of partial sensory deprivation, a series of experiments were carried out to test specific predictions from the model. In one experiment increasing speed of signal presentation or demands upon short-term memory both significantly reduced reports of task-irrelevant cognitive activity and imagery. In a second experiment graded financial reward for accuracy of detection led to progressive decrease in extraneous fantasies. In a third experiment distressing information prior to the trials significantly increased reports of spontaneous daydreaming during detection performance.
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