In the present article, I review theory and evidence on the psychological mechanisms of mind wandering, paying special attention to its relation with executive control. I then suggest applying a dual-process framework (i.e., automatic vs. controlled processing) to mind wandering and goal-directed thought. I present theoretical arguments and empirical evidence in favor of the view that mind wandering is based on automatic processing, also considering its relation to the concept of working memory. After that, I outline three scenarios for an interplay between mind wandering and goal-directed thought during task performance (parallel automatic processing, off-task thought substituting on-task thought, and non-disruptive mind wandering during controlled processing) and address the ways in which the mind-wandering and focused-attention spells can terminate. Throughout the article, I formulate empirical predictions. In conclusion, I discuss how automatic and controlled processing may be balanced in human conscious cognition.

在本文中，我回顾了关于走神心理机制的理论和证据，特别关注其与执行控制的关系。然后，我建议应用双处理框架（即自动处理与受控处理）来处理走神和目标导向的思维。我提出了理论论据和经验证据，支持心智游移基于自动处理的观点，同时考虑到它与工作记忆概念的关系。之后，我概述了任务执行期间走神与目标导向思维之间相互作用的三种场景（并行自动处理、任务外思维取代任务思维以及受控处理期间的非干扰性走神），并阐述了方法走神和注意力集中的咒语可以终止。在整篇文章中，我提出了实证预测。总之，我讨论了如何在人类意识认知中平衡自动和受控处理。