The Daydreaming Brain
What really happens in your brain when you daydream
Daydreaming is a common and natural phenomenon that involves a shift in attention away from the external environment towards internal thoughts, memories, or imagined scenarios. It engages several areas of the brain, particularly the default mode network (DMN), which shows increased activity when a person is not focused on the external world
The DMN is especially active during introspective activities such as daydreaming, contemplating the past or the future, or thinking about the perspective of another person
Research has shown that during daydreaming, there is an increase in alpha brain waves in the prefrontal cortex, particularly when thoughts transition from one topic to another
Alpha waves are slow brain rhythms with a frequency ranging from 9 to 14 cycles per second
Additionally, weaker brain signals known as P3 in the parietal cortex have been observed when individuals are not paying attention to the task at hand
A study conducted by Harvard Medical School found that daydreaming might play a role in brain plasticity, which is the brain’s ability to remodel itself in response to new experiences
The study also found that daydreams about a recently viewed image predicted how the brain would respond to the image in the future, suggesting that daydreams can shape the brain’s future response to what it sees
Furthermore, research has suggested that daydreaming might be linked to the release of certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which is associated with reward and pleasure
This suggests that daydreaming might be involved in the brain’s reward system, providing a sense of satisfaction or pleasure. Finally, some research suggests that during daydreaming, parts of the brain may exhibit sleep-like activity, with local slow waves predicting episodes of mind wandering
This indicates that daydreaming might occur when parts of the brain enter a sleep-like state while the rest of the brain remains awake
In summary, daydreaming involves complex brain activity across multiple regions and is associated with changes in brain wave patterns, neurotransmitter release, and potentially brain plasticity. It is a normal and essential part of human cognition, potentially playing roles in creativity, problem-solving, and the formation of identity
However, more research is needed to fully understand the precise mechanisms and implications of daydreaming.
Reference: “Cortical reactivations predict future sensory responses” by Nghia D. Nguyen, Andrew Lutas, Oren Amsalem, Jesseba Fernando, Andy Young-Eon Ahn, Richard Hakim, Josselyn Vergara, Justin McMahon, Jordane Dimidschstein, Bernardo L. Sabatini and Mark L. Andermann, 13 December 2023, Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586–023–06810–1
