The unengaged mind: Understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying boredom

无聊很常见，似乎与注意力密切相关，会给个人和社会带来重大问题--然而，我们对无聊背后的认知机制知之甚少。我们知识中的这一关键差距指出了现有注意力模式的局限性，并阻碍了我们制定减少无聊的负面影响的策略。拟议的研究将有助于解决这一差距。具体地说，我将开发和测试一个无聊的模型，该模型认为无聊是与一个人的精神能力没有完全投入相关的情感感觉(即，使用精神潜力的痛苦)。我将研究当我们感到无聊并努力吸引注意力的时刻背后的认知机制。通过这样做，我将有助于我们对注意力是如何工作的基本理解，并为开发方法来改善与“空闲思维”相关的问题奠定科学基础--例如在医疗监测、驾驶、飞机驾驶和核军事监测方面的错误。此外，我的工作将对理解诸如注意力缺陷多动障碍和其他类型的学习问题等困难产生影响，这些问题通常涉及与无聊的激烈斗争。更广泛地说，我的工作将帮助我们理解情感如何在调节我们的思维过程中发挥作用。拟议的研究计划还将使我能够保持一个活跃的、最先进的注意力实验室，这将有助于巩固加拿大作为尖端注意力研究场所的地位，并为培训下一代加拿大认知科学家提供机会。

Boredom is common, appears to be closely linked to attention, and causes significant problems for individuals and society—yet we know very little about the cognitive mechanisms underlying boredom. This critical gap in our knowledge points to limitations in existing models of attention and prevents us from developing strategies for reducing the negative impact of boredom. The proposed research will contribute to resolving this gap. Specifically, I will develop and test a model of boredom which suggests that boredom is the emotional feeling associated with not having ones mental ability fully engaged (i.e. the pain of used mental potential). I will study the cognitive mechanisms that underlie moments when we are bored and struggle to engage our attention. In so doing, I will contribute to our basic understanding of how attention works, as well as lay the scientific foundation for developing ways to ameliorate problems associated with the ‘unengaged mind’—such as errors in medical monitoring, driving, airline piloting, and nuclear military monitoring. Furthermore, my work will have implications for understanding difficulties like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other kinds of learning problems, which often involve intense struggles with boredom. More broadly my work will help us understand how feelings play a role in regulating our thinking processes. The proposed program of research will also allow me to maintain an active, state-of-the-art attention lab that will help consolidate Canada as a site for cutting-edge attention research and provide opportunities for training the next generation of Canadian cognitive scientists.