Investigating the Relationship Between Cognitive Flexibility, Mind Wandering and Chronotype Among College Students

Humans consistently differ in their optimal time of day to perform a cognitive operation. Further, the control of circadian rhythm among different chronotype groups significantly affects various cognitive functions. and it also helps in reducing task unrelated thoughts during activity period. Thus, it is imperative to understand how cognitive flexibility and mind wandering differ across chronotype groups. The present study explores the interplay of cognitive flexibility and mind wandering across chronotype groups. A total of 58 college students participated in this survey study and classified into different chronotype (Morning, Intermediate and Evening groups) using Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Results showed that chronotype groups do not significantly differ on the measures of cognitive flexibility. However, further analysis suggested morning and evening chronotype groups significantly differ on mind wandering. Pearson correlations revealed that significant negative association existed between the control measures of cognitive flexibility and mind wandering. Evening type people demonstrated high mind wandering and low control on cognitive flexibility measures than intermediate and morning type people. The findings further suggested that tendency to mind wander was less among morning type people compared to other chronotypes.