Everyday Attention: Variation in Mind Wandering and Memory in a Lecture
Abstract
Summary Understanding the factors underlying variation in attentional state is critical in a number of domains. Here, we investigate the relation between time on task and mind wandering (i.e., a state of decoupled attention) in the context of a lecture. Lectures are the primary means of knowledge transmission in post secondary education rendering an understanding of attentional variations in lectures a pressing practical concern. We report two experiments wherein participants watched a video recorded lecture either alone (Experiment 1) or in a classroom context (Experiment 2). Participants responded to mind wandering probes at various times in the lecture in an effort to track variations in mind wandering over time. In addition, following the lecture, memory for the lecture material was tested. Results demonstrate that in a lecture mind wandering increases with time on task and memory for the lecture material decreases. In addition, there was a significant relation between mind wandering and memory for lecture material. Theoretical and practical applications of the present results are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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During extended lectures, students may experience increased mental workload, heightened distractibility, reduced attentional control, and lower knowledge retention.
“During extended lectures, students may experience increased mental workload, heightened distractibility, reduced attentional control, and lower knowledge retention [43].”
From Effect of classroom physical activity breaks on learning behaviors and academic achievements in university students: a systematic review (2026) · cites this paper as [43]
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- Authors
- Risko, E. F., Anderson, N., Sarwal, A., Engelhardt, M., & Kingstone, A.
- Affiliations
- Arizona State University (US)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Risko, Evan F.
- Venue
- Applied Cognitive Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-08-25
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 234-242
- ISSN
- 0888-4080 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0720
- OpenAlex
- W2171822968
- Cited by
- 445
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 4.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Cognitive Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Killam Trusts
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- mind wandering, attentional state, time on task, classroom context, video lectures, postsecondary education
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
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