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Topic: Surprise! Daydreaming Really Works the Brain
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Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 136 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted May 13, 2009 07:19 PM
Got a tough problem to solve? Try daydreaming.Contrary to the notion that daydreaming is a sign of laziness, letting the mind wander can actually let the parts of the brain associated with problem-solving become active, a new study finds. Kalina Christoff of the University of British Columbia in Canada and her colleagues placed study participants inside an fMRI scanner, where they performed the simple routine task of pushing a button when numbers appear on a screen. The researchers tracked subjects' attentiveness moment-to-moment through brain scans, subjective reports from subjects and by tracking their performance on the task. Until now, scientists had thought that the brain's "default network," which is linked to easy, routine mental activity, was the only part of the brain that remains active when the mind wanders. But in the study subjects, the brain's "executive network" - associated with high-level, complex problem-solving - also lit up. The less subjects were aware that their mind was wandering, the more both networks were activated. "This study shows our brains are very active when we daydream - much more active than when we focus on routine tasks," Christoff said. The findings, detailed in the May 11 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that daydreaming is an important cognitive state where we may unconsciously turn our attention from immediate tasks to sort through important problems in our lives. "When you daydream, you may not be achieving your immediate goal - say reading a book or paying attention in class - but your mind may be taking that time to address more important questions in your life, such as advancing your career or personal relationships," Christoff said. That's particularly good news, because daydreaming can occupy as much as one third of our waking lives, previous studies have found. http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090513/sc_livescience/surprisedaydreamingreallyworksthebrain Now they finally understand!
Raymond
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MyVirgoMask Knowflake Posts: 220 From: Registered: May 2009
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posted May 13, 2009 07:23 PM
Excellent! I always think it's sad when people dismiss daydreaming.... to me it's the first step toward manifesting. IP: Logged |
lionseye*** Knowflake Posts: 40 From: edmonton, ab. ca Registered: May 2009
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posted May 14, 2009 01:35 AM
Some call it daydreaming, some call it worrying...Most of mine seems to take place at night after my head hits the pillow. But mulling things over again and again is how I come to terms with things, and how I decide on the best way to cope with them. But it often makes falling asleep a struggle. Clearly I need to make more effort during the day, while I'm working or dealing with a contractor or driving...wait I do that already. IP: Logged |
AcousticGod Knowflake Posts: 202 From: Pleasanton, CA Registered: Apr 2009
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posted May 14, 2009 10:39 AM
You can't achieve meaningful flashes of insight without letting your mind wander. All geniuses know this. IP: Logged |
GypseeWind Knowflake Posts: 75 From: Dayton,Ohio USA Registered: May 2009
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posted May 14, 2009 01:42 PM
lionseye; I do that too! and sleep is difficult. Does yours seem worse if youve been around alot of other peoples energies? Like a concert, party, or even the net? I thought this was kinda a form of O.C.D. Are you just playing the "tapes" over and over in your head when trying to sleep, or do you play them and imagine in different responses you could have made and different outcomes. Sorry to be nosy, just really curious!IP: Logged |
GypseeWind Knowflake Posts: 75 From: Dayton,Ohio USA Registered: May 2009
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posted May 14, 2009 01:42 PM
lionseye; I do that too! and sleep is difficult. Does yours seem worse if youve been around alot of other peoples energies? Like a concert, party, or even the net? I thought this was kinda a form of O.C.D. Are you just playing the "tapes" over and over in your head when trying to sleep, or do you play them and imagine in different responses you could have made and different outcomes. Sorry to be nosy, just really curious!IP: Logged |
GypseeWind Knowflake Posts: 75 From: Dayton,Ohio USA Registered: May 2009
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posted May 14, 2009 01:43 PM
oops. there goes that sleep depravation thing.IP: Logged |
lionseye*** Knowflake Posts: 40 From: edmonton, ab. ca Registered: May 2009
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posted May 15, 2009 10:51 AM
Hi GyspeeWind. I tend to analyze the crap out of things someone said, or things their body language relayed, and yes I also think of things to say next time, if there is a next time...it's the good ol' "D-oh! I wish I would have said XXXX" I also ponder mundane things like how to coordinate a busy day or fix a problem or sort out a cluster *BleeP* of some sort. I have Sun conjunct Mercury, within minutes of each other, as well as an Aqua moon, so it seems my mind never wants to give me freekin break lol...It's exhausting at times. But I do my best problem solving at night in bed when the house is quiet and my mind is free from distractions. IP: Logged |
GypseeWind Knowflake Posts: 75 From: Dayton,Ohio USA Registered: May 2009
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posted May 15, 2009 12:15 PM
Well maybe we're just special. A cluttered mind is an artists playground <:IP: Logged |