Scientists study how mind wanders

Brain-scanning evidence links mind-wandering to basic operation of the brain. Malia Mason of Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital and colleagues recently reported that mind-wandering taps into the same circuitry that people use when they're told to do nothing -- when their brains are on "idle."

Researchers are studying a pervasive psychological phenomenon in which an individual's mind wanders. Mainstream psychology has not paid much attention to this common mental habit. But a spate of new studies is chipping away at its mysteries and scientists say the topic is beginning to gain visibility.

Someday, such research may turn up ways to help students keep their focus on textbooks and lectures, and drivers to keep their minds on the road. It may reveal ways to reap payoffs from the habit. And it might shed light on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which can include an unusually severe inability to focus that causes trouble in multiple areas of life. More generally, scientists say, mind-wandering is worth studying because it is just too common to ignore.

Read full story at Sci-Tech Today.