The Subjective Experience of Being Out-of-the-Zone: Investigating Objective and Subjective Attention Fluctuations

Sustained attention fluctuates continuously between periods of low and high attentional engagement. Two major approaches have been used in the literature to capture these fluctuations. An objective approach, based on reaction time (RT) variability, identifies periods known as in-the-zone (stable and accurate) and out-of-the-zone (variable and error-prone). A subjective approach relies on participants’ self-reports regarding task-related and task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs). While both methods have proven effective in tracking attentional fluctuations, it remains unclear whether they capture the same type of fluctuations. In this study, we aimed to better characterize the subjective experience associated with objectively defined out-of-the-zone periods. Thirty participants completed a classic sustained attention task—the Continuous Performance Task (CPT)—in a go/no-go format. At several points during the task, participants were interrupted with subjective probes assessing their current mental state (task-focused, performance-focused, external distraction, daydreaming, and mind-blanking), as well as their perceived effort, opportunity cost, and arousal. Our results offer a nuanced view of the relationship between subjective and objective approaches. We found evidence for consistency: out-of-the-zone periods were more frequently associated with daydreaming than in-the-zone periods. However, inconsistencies also emerged. In-the-zone periods were marked by faster RTs, whereas subjective on-task periods were associated with slower responses. Arousal was reduced during TUT periods but did not differ between in- and out-of-the-zone periods. Together, these findings suggest that while RT variability reflects some aspects of subjective experience, subjective and objective approaches may diverge in how they capture performance dynamics and internal states such as arousal.