Flexibility as the key for somatic health: From mind wandering to perseverative cognition

• Published in: Biological psychology Vol. 94; no. 1; pp. 38 - 43
• Main Authors: Ottaviani, Cristina, Shapiro, David, Couyoumdjian, Alessandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.09.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Affect - physiology; Attention - physiology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Cognition; Electrocardiography; Female; Flexibility; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate - physiology; Heart rate variability; Humans; Male; Mental Recall - physiology; Mind wandering; Neuropsychological Tests; Perseverative cognition; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Mind wandering; Heart rate variability; Flexibility; Perseverative cognition; Heart rate; Health; Variability; Distraction; Cognition
• ISSN: 0301-0511; 1873-6246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.05.003

•Separation of the studies on MW and rumination/worry led to implausible results.•MW per se is not associated with increased physiological reactivity or low mood.•MW becomes maladaptive when it takes the form of rumination or worry.•An increase in cognitive rigidity is associated with higher autonomic inflexibility. Mind wandering (MW) has been defined as the brain's default mode of operation. It is a common experience, however, that this process can become maladaptive, and take the form of repetitive thoughts. We aimed to compare the cardiac and cognitive correlates of perseverative cognition (PC) and MW. Seventy-three healthy participants were engaged in two recall interviews designed to draw their attention to a neutral and a personally relevant negative episode. After each interview, participants performed a 20-min tracking task with thought probe while the electrocardiogram was continuously recorded. Perseverative cognition was associated with higher levels of cognitive inflexibility (slower reaction times, highest intrusiveness, efforts to inhibit), autonomic rigidity (low heart rate variability), and mood worsening compared to being focused on task or MW. Results suggest that MW fails to serve its adaptive function, and turns into a risk factor for health whenever it becomes a rigid and inflexible pattern (PC).