Introspection confidence predicts EEG decoding of self-generated thoughts and meta-awareness

The neurophysiological bases of mind wandering (MW) – an experiential state wherein attention is disengaged from the external environment in favour of internal thoughts, and state meta-awareness are poorly understood. In parallel, the relationship between introspection confidence in experiential state judgements and neural representations remains unclear. Here, we recorded EEG whilst participants completed a listening task within which they made experiential state judgments and rated their confidence. Alpha power was reliably greater during MW episodes, with unaware MW further associated with greater delta and theta power. Multivariate pattern classification analysis revealed that MW, and meta-awareness can be decoded from the distribution of power in these three frequency bands. Critically, we show that individual decoding accuracies positively correlate with introspection confidence. Our results reaffirm the role of alpha oscillations in MW, implicate lower frequencies in meta-awareness, and are consistent with the proposal that introspection confidence indexes neurophysiological discriminability of representational states

The effects of microdose LSD on time perception: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Rationale: Previous research demonstrating that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produces alterations in time perception has implications for its impact on conscious states and a range of psychological functions that necessitate precise interval timing. However, interpretation of this research is hindered by methodological limitations and an inability to dissociate direct neurochemical effects on interval timing from indirect effects attributable to altered states of consciousness. Methods: We conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study contrasting oral administration of placebo with three microdoses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) in older adults. Subjective drug effects were regularly recorded and interval timing was assessed using a temporal reproduction task spanning subsecond and suprasecond intervals. Results: LSD conditions were not associated with any robust changes in self-report indices of perception, mentation, or concentration. LSD reliably produced over-reproduction of temporal intervals of 2000 ms and longer with these effects most pronounced in the 10 μg dose condition. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that LSD-mediated over-reproduction was independent of marginal differences in self-reported drug effects across conditions. Conclusions: These results suggest that microdose LSD produces temporal dilation of suprasecond intervals in the absence of subjective alterations of consciousness

Correction to: The effects of microdose LSD on time perception: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

n/

Response time fluctuations in the SART predict performance accuracy and meta-awareness of attentional states

Data for: Polychroni, N., Hedman, L. R. A., & Terhune, D. B. Response time fluctuations in the SART predict performance accuracy and meta-awareness of attentional state

Introspective access or retrospective inference? Mind wandering reports are shaped by performance feedback

Most mind wandering (MW) paradigms use self-reports following task performance, but the extent to which these reports are confounded by performance cues is unknown. In two experiments, we examined whether self-reports and confidence therein are influenced by performance indicators during visual metronome response tasks. In Experiment 1, we found that sham feedback modulated reports independently of behavioural performance with participants more likely to report MW after incorrect than correct sham feedback. In Experiment 2, we replicated this pattern using a more implicit manipulation of perceived performance, a surreptitious delay in the onset of response targets. Participants were more likely to report MW after delay than control trials. In both experiments, confidence in on-task reports was lower when the corresponding indicator (falsely) implied poor performance. These findings suggest that MW reports and experiential state confidence are partly confounded by performance monitoring and have implications for a variety of experience sampling methodologies

Introspective access or retrospective inference? Mind wandering reports are shaped by performance feedback

Data for: Introspective access or retrospective inference? Mind wandering reports are shaped by performance feedback. Naya Polychroni, Mahiko Konishi, Isa Steinecker, & Devin B. Terhun