The unengaged mind: Understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying boredom

无聊很常见，似乎与注意力密切相关，并对个人和社会造成重大问题，但我们对无聊的认知机制知之甚少。我们知识中的这一关键差距表明了现有注意力模型的局限性，并阻止我们制定减少无聊负面影响的策略。拟议的研究将有助于解决这一差距。具体来说，我将开发和测试一个无聊的模型，它表明无聊是与没有充分利用自己的心理能力（即使用心理潜力的痛苦）相关的情绪感受。我将研究在我们感到无聊和难以集中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如何工作的基本理解，并为开发改善与未参与的头脑相关的问题的方法奠定科学基础，例如医疗监测，驾驶，航空公司飞行和核军事监测中的错误。此外，我的工作将有助于理解注意力缺陷多动障碍和其他类型的学习问题，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一个尖端的注意力研究网站，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 societyyet 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.