Maintaining Performance Without Reducing Mind-Wandering: Exploring the Impact of Short Breaks during Sustained Attention Tasks

Objective: Extensive evidence shows that performance during sustained attention tasks declines over time and mind-wandering (MW) frequency increases with time on task. It is not clear, however, what types of interventions can address these issues and if those interventions can simultaneously mitigate both increased MW frequency and performance decline. Method: This study examined the effects of two common interventions, taking a break (rest-break) vs. changing to a different task (task-switch) during the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). Traditional reaction time and accuracy measures were computed, as well as, parameters from a drift-diffusion model (DDM), which allowed for a closer look at potential cognitive mechanisms. In addition, the effectiveness of the interventions was evaluated across different mental states (on-task vs. off-task). Results: Behaviorally, both interventions preserved performance compared to the no-break group. For the DDM parameters, both interventions maintained stable no-go drift rates, and the task-switch intervention additionally showed an increase in boundary separation. However, neither intervention reduced rates of MW. Additionally, the effects of interventions were more pronounced when participants reported being on-task. Conclusions: These findings suggest that short breaks can help sustain performance, yet do not necessarily halt MW.