Motivation, interest, and intentionality: The effects of autistic traits on mind wandering in a university sample

Mind wandering (MW) research has largely focused on samples assumed to be neurotypical, with little attention to how autistic traits might shape MW experiences. The current study used a trait-based approach to examine how autistic traits relate to MW frequency, motivation, interest, intentionality, and memory performance during a reading task. Sixty-six participants (48 females, 18 males) from a large North American university read two non-fiction chapters (one chapter on fossils, one on the troposphere) under separate probe-caught (PC) and self-caught (SC) conditions. While reading, participants reported MW episodes and indicated whether each was intentional or unintentional. Following each chapter, participants completed a memory task and rated their motivation and interest. Autistic traits were measured using the 10-item Autism quotient (AQ-10); autism diagnosis was not assessed. Across participants, higher momentary interest in the reading material was associated with reduced MW and better memory performance. AQ-10 score was positively correlated with interest in fossils. The interaction between AQ-10 score and reporting method approached significance, suggesting a possible tendency for the difference in MW reports between SC and PC conditions to increase with autistic trait level, however, this effect was inconclusive. Taken together, these findings add to the limited research on MW in individuals high in autistic traits and suggest that autistic traits may have limited affect on performance or how often MW occurs, but may play a role in how MW is reported across sampling methods. Further research is needed to determine if this pattern reflects differences in attentional monitoring or MW episode characteristics, and whether these findings generalize to people with a confirmed autism diagnosis. • Autistic traits were not related to mind wandering frequency, intentionality, motivation, or memory performance. • Across participants, higher momentary interest in the reading material was linked to reduced mind wandering and better memory performance. • Autistic traits were positively correlated with interest in fossil-related content. • The interaction between autistic traits and reporting method approached significance, suggesting a possible difference in how mind wandering is reported across probe-caught and self-caught conditions.