Age-Related Differences in Mind Wandering: The Role of Emotional Valence.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Older adults consistently report fewer experiences of mind wandering compared to younger adults. Aging is also associated with a shift in the emotional focus of our thoughts, with older adults tending to experience an increase in attention toward positive information, or a "positivity bias," relative to younger adults. Here, we tested if the positivity bias associated with aging can also predict age-related changes in the content of older adults' mind wandering.

Method

Older adults and younger adults completed a go/no-go task with periodic thought probes to assess rates of emotionally valenced mind wandering.

Results

Older adults reported significantly less negatively and neutrally valenced mind wandering compared to younger adults, but there was no age dif

SUBMITTER: Welhaf MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10745276 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature