Brief lapses in attention show increased activity in the default mode network (DMN) of the brain. Researchers found that reduced visual cortex activity during lapses causes lower conscious awareness and increases activity in brain regions involved in higher-order thinking and reorienting attention. The study aimed to measure performance differences across conditions by stimulating the DMN. The hypothesis was that group scores and self-reflection groups would be more accurate. A t-test found that self-reflection significantly reduced errors in a winter survival group task, but grouping had no significant impact on errors.

1. PREVIOUS RESEARCH
• Default Mode Network
Researchers find that brief lapses in attention show increased
D.M.N. activity in the brain. Methods recording reaction time,
response stimulus interval, manipulation, post reaction time
and post response stimulus interval provided data that within
a correlation analyses showed reduced visual cortex activity
causing lower conscious awareness. This sub consciousness
reduces spatial attention when given behaviorally relevant
stimuli with use of the Middle Frontal Gyrus. Lapses in
attention increase higher order of thinking exhibited within the
frontal and parietal regions. Response conflict goes up with
attention lapses displaying the re-orienting of thoughts by using
the areas of the brain called the Temporo-Parietal Junction and
Inferior Frontal Gyrus. The use of some of these areas make
for better habits and assist in error detection, anticipation,
attention and motivation which are evident in the Anterior
Cingulate Cortex. These parts of the D.M.N. through varying
conditions may display increased levels of performance.
The goal is to use stimulation of the D.M.N., like the
manipulation seen here, to measure the difference of
performance levels across conditions.
(Weisman, 2006)
HYPOTHESIS
The hypothesis of condition one is that by grouping participants,
group scores will be more accurate than individual scores.
The hypothesis for the second condition is that groups tasked with
self-reflection prior to group engagement will benefit significantly.
Raising Potential Within Groups
Effects of Self-Reflection
A T-test was conducted to determine the impact of self
reflection on error rates in the survival scenario. The results
show that self-reflection reduced errors made by participants in
groups, t(13) = 2.41, p < .03. Figure 1 shows the error rate for
the self-reflection conditions.
DISCUSSION
• Findings
•Being in a group had no significant impact
on error rates. However, self-reflection
significantly reduced error rates.
•Limitations
•College students are convenience samples and may not truly
reflect the larger population overlooking other age groups.
•Participant IV’s can have an effect on group activities. With
some within group analysis the participant IV may be reduced.
•Directions for Future Research
•Research showed that imagery and visual processing
is influential in memory retention and automatic process
As in cases of PTSD being treated with EMDR.
(Leer et. al., 2014)
• Implications
• Research shows interactive difference with
demand variation. This revelation may help increase
performance. Also displayed was the contrast across
task, fixation and rest. What this means is that taking
breaks helps. What was most interesting though was
the behavioral correlation with the default mode
network. (Vatansever et. al., 2015)
METHOD
• Participants.
•15 participants took part in the study.
•Taking part in the study was voluntary.
•All participants were between the ages of 18-25
•Participants ensured the activity will not trigger any
post traumatic stress.
•Participants are from diverse ethnic
backgrounds and no group has its members all
being of the same race.
•Procedure
•All participants completed the Winter Survival
scenario task by Wanig, First they completed
the task individually and then paired with another
participant. Half of the participants were asked to
take 5 minutes to reflect on how their efforts could
contribute to the success of the group.
The other participants did not.
Kymberli Taylor & W. Richard Walker
Colorado State University - Pueblo
ABSTRACT
The impact of grouping and self reflection on how people make
decisions was tested. Using 15 CSU-Pueblo students we assessed
the effect of being put into a group and being attentive to self
awareness and social responsibility within group reasoning. After
having read a winter survival scenario the participants are tasked
with ranking 15 items according to how important they are to
surviving. The accuracy of their responses were assessed using
rankings provided by survivals experts. The results show that
placing participants into groups had no significant effect on error
rates. The results also showed that participants who engaged in a
5-minute self-reflection had fewer errors when placed into
groups.
Effects of Grouping Participants
A T-test was conducted to determine the impact of grouping
participants on error rates in the survival scenario. The results
show that grouping non-significantly raised error rates, t(14) =
1.76, n.s.. Figure 2 shows the error rate for individual
participants and grouped participants.
Winter Survival Scenario. Imagine you need to survive a plane crash in the winter.
What items below are the most/least important to your survival?
STEP 1
Individual
STEP 2
Group
STEP 3
Expert
STEP 4
Difference 1-3
STEP 5
Difference 2-3
Items
1 Cigarette lighter
2 Ball of steel wool
3 Extra shirt and pants
4 Family-sized chocolate bar
5 Can of shortening
6 Flashlight with batteries
7 30 feet of rope
8 Newspaper
9 Loaded .45-caliber pistol
10 Knife
11 Compress kit
12 Two ski poles
13 Quart of 85-proof whiskey
14 Sectional air map
15 Compass
Total of Differences=
0
20
40
60
80
No Self Reflection Self-Reflection
Mean Error Rate
Self Reflection Conditions
0
20
40
60
80
Individual Participants Grouped Participants
Mean Error Rate
Grouping Conditions
REFERENCES
Leer, A., Engelhard, I.M., VanDenHout, M.A. (2014). How eye
movements in EMDR work: changes in memory vividness and
emotionality. Journal Of Behavior Therapy And Experimental
Psychiatry, 45 396-401. Doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2014.04.004
Wanig, M. (n.d.) Winter Survival Exercise. Retrieved January 18,
2016, from http://ed.fnal.gov/arise/guides/bio/1-Scientific
Method/1b-WinterSurvivalExercise.pdf
Weissman, D.H., Roberts, K.C., Vissher, K.M., & Woldorff, M.G.
(2006)The neural bases momentary lapse in
attention.NatureNeuroScience.9(7).971-978.doi: 10-1038/nn/727
Vatansever, D., Menon, A., Sahakain, B., & Stamatakis, E. (2015).
Default mode network connectivity during task execution.
Neuroimage ,12296-104.doi:10-1016/j.Neuroimage.2015.07.053
CONCLUSION
“The participants have crash-landed. Many individuals tend to overlook the enormous shock reaction this has upon the human body, and the
death of the pilot and copilot increases the shock. Decision making under such conditions is extremely difficult. Such a situation requires a
strong emphasis upon the use of reasoning not only to make decisions, but also to reduce the fear and panic every person would naturally feel.
Along with fear, shock reaction is manifested in the feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and hopelessness. These feelings have brought about
more fatalities than perhaps any other cause in survival situations. Through the use of reasoning, hope for survival and the will to live can be
generated. Certainly the state of shock means that movement of individuals should be at a minimum and that an attempt to calm them should
be made.”(Wanig, n.d.)
The correct ranking of the survivors' items was made on the basis
of information provided by Mark Wanig and supplemented
from Rulstrum (1978). Wanig was an instructor for three years
in survival training in the reconnaissance school in the 101st
Division of the U.S. Army and later an instructor on wilderness
survival for four years at the Twin City Institute for Talented
Youth. He is now conducting wilderness survival programs for
Minneapolis teachers.(Wanig, n.d.)
Exercise published by Fermilab Education. Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory FNAL at the United States Department
of Energy is a national laboratory