Protzner, AndreaKrile, Louisa2024-08-262024-08-262024-08-15Krile, L. (2024). The influence of mind-wandering and brain signal complexity on visual perceptual learning (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.https://hdl.handle.net/1880/119440Mind-wandering, or shifts in attention from task-related to task-unrelated thoughts, occupies up to 50% of our waking hours and impacts neural and behavioural functioning. Mind-wandering is associated with impaired performance on cognitive tasks but may facilitate performance on creative problem-solving tasks. Until now, research has focused on the impact of mind-wandering on immediate task performance, but the association with learning-related gains over time remains unclear. Previous research examining brain signal complexity during task performance showed that periods of mind-wandering were associated with higher signal complexity compared with on-task states, reflecting increased neural flexibility. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether higher signal complexity associated with mind-wandering may represent a flexible neural state conducive to learning. Twenty-eight adults underwent electroencephalography (EEG) recording while performing a visual texture discrimination task before and after a training period, with their attention state probed throughout the experiment. Task performance improved (p = .033), the amount of mind-wandering increased (p = .016), and N1 and P3 event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes were modulated (p’s < .01) significantly following training. Neural results showed that increased mind-wandering, smaller N1 amplitudes, and better post-training performance were associated with widespread increased signal complexity (p = .001), and that larger ERP amplitudes and better baseline performance were associated with a greater reliance on global signal complexity (p = .038). Overall, these results suggest that a high-flexibility brain state associated with mind-wandering may support learning in low-level perceptual tasks.enUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Brain signal complexityElectroencephalography (EEG)Event-related potential (ERP)Mind-wanderingMultiscale entropy (MSE)Texture discrimination task (TDT)Visual perceptual learningPsychology--CognitiveNeurosciencemaster thesis