Towards a Model of Boredom: Investigating the Cognitive and Neural Correlates of Boredom and Inattention

无聊是一种普遍现象，它影响着广泛而多样的人类活动。过去的研究表明，无聊与注意力缺失、无法保持注意力、走神和许多精神疾病有关。因此，这一经验对加拿大人具有广泛的影响。例如，考虑无聊对长途飞行的商业航空公司飞行员、学业和课堂行为的潜在影响，以及无聊在注意力缺陷多动障碍（Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder）等疾病中所扮演的角色。鉴于此，令人惊讶的是，很少有研究致力于定义这种结构本身独特的神经和心理基础。如果不彻底地理解作为经验基础的基本过程，就很难建立识别和度量经验的标准。因此，在其他领域的研究人员开始确定正常和非典型无聊水平的构成以及设计有效的治疗和干预措施之前，对无聊是什么以及它与相关状态（如走神和注意力不集中）有何不同的综合定义是必要的第一步。本研究旨在利用趋同神经成像和认知方法，对与无聊体验相关的潜在过程进行全面调查。我的目的是提供实验证据，以确定无聊体验特有的神经心理学关联。这项工作致力于为无聊状态提供一个神经心理学模型，并将为未来研究注意力、情绪和觉醒以及动机和奖励提供急需的方向。因此，这项研究不仅有望阐明与注意力不集中和无聊相关的重要过程和结构，而且有望为广泛领域的研究人员提供基础。

Boredom is a common phenomenon that impacts a broad and heterogeneous range of human activities. Past research revealed that boredom is associated with attention lapses, an inability to sustain attention, mind wandering, and numerous psychiatric disorders. Thus, the experience has broad implications for Canadians. Consider, for example, the potential consequences of boredom for commercial airline pilots on long-haul flights, academics and behaviour in the classroom, and the role boredom plays in disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Given this, it is surprising how little research has been devoted to defining the distinct neural and psychological underpinnings of the construct itself. Without a thorough understanding of the basic processes that underlie the experience, it is difficult to establish criteria to identify and measure it. Thus, a comprehensive definition of what boredom is and how it is different from related states, such as mind wandering and inattention, is a necessary first step before researchers in other fields can begin to determine what constitutes normal and atypical levels of boredom and design effective treatments and interventions. The present research is designed to draw upon convergent neuroimaging and cognitive methods to carry out a comprehensive investigation of the underlying processes associated with the experience of boredom. My purpose is to provide experimental evidence that will identify neuropsychological correlates unique to the experience of boredom. This work endeavours to provide a neuropsychological model for the state of boredom and will provide much needed direction for future research investigating attention, emotion and arousal, as well as motivation and reward. Thus, this research not only promises to elucidate important processes and structures related to inattention and boredom, but it also promises to provide a basic foundation for researchers in a wide range of fields.