Forget to remember; remember to forget – daydreaming solves problems

Another data point to add to the collected studies of creativity and problem-solving: daydreaming activates the same parts of the brain that are used in solving complex quandries:

Until now, the brain’s “default network” – which is linked to easy, routine mental activity and includes the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC), the posterior cingulate cortex and the temporoparietal junction – was the only part of the brain thought to be active when our minds wander.

However, the study finds that the brain’s “executive network” – associated with high-level, complex problem-solving and including the lateral PFC and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex – also becomes activated when we daydream.

Having spent a good half of my life hanging around with artists, writers and musicians – all of whom tend to mental drifting to a greater or lesser degree, especially when working – this doesn’t really seem like a surprising result, but it’s interesting to have scientific support for an observational theory. All I need now is more time to daydream with… [via BoingToTheBoing]

3 thoughts on “Forget to remember; remember to forget – daydreaming solves problems”

  1. Hey so my teachers were wrong…daydreaming is good for you! According to some weird study funded by god knows who, but hey, this is scientific proof!

  2. Hey: those artists, writers and musicians defy the laws of physics: “all of whom tend to metal drifting to a greater or lesser degree…”

    Futurismic typo of the day…;-)

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