Studies in the Stream of Consciousness: Experimental Enhancement and Suppression of Spontaneous Cognitive Processes
J. Antrobus, J. Singer, S. Greenberg
Perceptual and Motor Skills October 1, 1966 DOI: 10.1177/003151256602300212 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | speed of signal presentation graded financial reward distressing information |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key findings | Faster signal presentation, higher memory demands, and graded financial rewards reduced task-irrelevant cognitive activity, while distressing information increased it. |
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.