Table 1.

Mind wandering probes: Questions and their responses.

Q1—Indicate the object of your attention	I am totally focused on the task at hand—Focus I am totally focused on my thoughts—Mind wandering (MW) I was distracted by an external event (noise, visual, sensation, etc.…)—External
Focus questions
Q2—Did this require an effort? conditioned on the answer “Focus” to Q1	Yes, No
Q3—Do you think you can maintain your focus over time? conditioned on the answer “Yes” to Q2	Yes, No
MW questions
Q4—Was it voluntary? conditioned on the answer “MW” to Q1	Yes, No
Q5—What exactly were you thinking about? conditioned on the answer “Yes” to Q4	I was thinking of a past event (last holiday, evening with friends, exam or meeting, etc.)–Episodic Past Thinking—EPT I was thinking about the future (next holiday, life goals, etc.)—Episodic Future Thinking—EFT I was thinking about something specific I need to remember to do in the future (appointment, mail, shopping, etc.)—Planning I was thinking of an imaginary situation (fictive, unreal)—Imagination I wasn't thinking about anything in particular, nor was I focused on the current task—Other
External questions
Q6—Was it voluntary? conditioned on the answer “External” to Q1	Yes, No
Q4—Was your attention focused on this object? conditioned on the answer “Yes” to Q6	Yes, No