Avalon Nisenbaum¹, Susanne Ferber²; ¹University of Toronto

Sustained attention is essential for tasks requiring prolonged focus. Yet, our attention fluctuates, even for simple tasks, as our minds shift in and out of focus. Such lapses in attention are called mind wandering (MW) and are often associated with performance declines. The flanker task is a well-established paradigm to study the ability to suppress irrelevant information and respond accurately to the target stimuli. When combined with MW assessments, it has been found that during MW periods, performance on incongruent trials decreases. Previous studies have often used symbolic stimuli, such as arrows, numbers, or letters, which may limit transfer to real-world situations. Here, we tested whether “in-zone” (high task engagement) and “out-of-zone” (low task engagement) periods affect performance in a task involving images of indoor/outdoor scenes and living/non-living items. Participants (N = 47) completed an image Flanker task designed to assess sustained attention through response times (RTs) and accuracy. Results showed significant differences between “in-zone” and “out-of-zone” conditions. Participants in the "in-zone" condition exhibited faster RTs and higher accuracy compared to the "out-of-zone" condition. In the “in-zone” condition, no significant differences in RTs were found between congruent and incongruent trials, whereas the “out-of-zone” condition showed significant RT differences, with incongruent trials slower than congruent ones. For accuracy, no significant differences were found in either zone. These results align with theoretical models, suggesting that attentional fluctuations directly impact task performance. Our findings underscore the dynamic nature of sustained attention and its significant influence on task performance. The clear distinctions between “in-zone” and “out-of-zone” conditions highlight the critical role of attentional fluctuations in shaping behavioural outcomes. Future studies will identify the ideal duration of attention-demanding tasks and effective break strategies that could inform interventions to enhance focus and productivity across various settings.