Is it Possible to Learn Complex Implicit Tasks, Such as Artificial Grammars, While Mind Wandering?

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.

Abstract

The current investigation examined whether it is possible to implicitly learn a set of rules, such as those found in an artificial grammar task, while mind wandering. Participants memorized 23 grammatical stimuli in 10 blocks of trials. Between blocks were mind wandering probes to determine their level of attention devoted to the task. Then, during the testing phase, participants were presented with 32 novel stimuli indicating whether they were grammatical or nongrammatical. Participants were significantly better than chance at identifying grammatical items. A Bayesian correlation analysis indicated no correlation between the amount of mind wandering and the proportion of items correctly identified in the testing phase (r = .04), with a 95% CI [-14, .22] and a Bayes Factor of B01= 12.78. The results suggest that participants implicitly learned the grammar structure and that the degree of mind wandering was not related to learning of artificial grammar, suggesting that implicit learning can occur although one is mind wandering.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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Volume 1, Issue 3
October 2025
Pages 11-18
  • Receive Date: 18 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 13 September 2025
  • First Publish Date: 13 September 2025
  • Publish Date: 01 October 2025