Definitely free-wheeling for me unless I'm very focus or obsessed about something. It's funny how random bits of information link together and pretty much cause a exponential recall of information until my mind refocus on something specific and repeats the cycle until it gets exhausted or I concentrate to refocus it. If it runs out of control it gives me an anxiety attack. I describe it more like a web-based thinking with random and linear channels, it's impossible to just recall one piece of information without exciting parts of the web, if that makes any sense.
That's how I remember things so well, even if I forget something, I usually can randomly recall unrelated fragment memories by simply wondering what I forgot. Usually a unrelated memory finds itself linked to the information I truly want and voila, I recalled it. I also use it for analysis as it allows me to notice particular patterns in real life. However like I said, it sparks my anxiety/paranoia if it goes too far though.