A new position paper argues that maladaptive daydreaming should be included as a dissociative disorder in psychiatric manuals. The inclusion of MD is expected to spur research and treatment, leading to increased awareness among clinicians and researchers.
A study published in Nature Communications found that sharp-wave ripples in the hippocampus are associated with vivid, imaginative self-generated thoughts and less pleasurable states. This link may have implications for understanding conditions such as autism, attention deficit disorder, and happiness/well-being.
A recent study by Boston Children's Hospital researchers found that activity in the dentate gyrus helps keep us focused on our environment when our mind wanders. This neural activity also aids in forming memories.
A study in mice suggests that daydreams can shape the brain's future response to what it sees. Researchers found that patterns of activity during a mouse's first few daydreams predicted how the brain would respond to an image later, indicating a potential causal relationship between daydreaming and brain plasticity.
Researchers identified a novel measure, the 'd factor', linking distractibility with ADHD symptoms and hyperfocus. The study found strong statistical links between external distraction, intrusive thoughts, and mind-wandering, suggesting a general distractibility trait.
A recent study found that daily fluctuations in COVID-19 worry are linked to negative emotions during daydreaming. In contrast, nighttime dreams are more influenced by individual differences. The research suggests that relying on general questionnaires may not capture the complexities of inner experiences.
A novel neurofeedback technique was developed to enhance awareness of mind-wandering, allowing individuals to manage this state more effectively. The study demonstrated significant enhancement in awareness after 20 minutes of neurofeedback, with no rewards or punishments used.
A study found that people experience a dissociative state when scrolling through social media, leading researchers to design an app that promotes user control and attention. The app, Chirp, incorporates features such as lists and pop-up surveys to help users stay focused.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University researchers suggests that maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a distinct mental disorder that can co-occur with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study found that MD was associated with higher rates of depression, loneliness, and lowered self-esteem in individuals with ADHD.
A transdisciplinary research team at Göttingen Campus has found a new perspective on the rhythmic processes in the brain. They discovered that adapting interneurons can switch between very slow rhythms and fast rhythms, challenging previous assumptions about their function.
Daydreaming can be an antidote to boredom, but it's surprisingly demanding. Research suggests that we don't intuitively understand how to think enjoyable thoughts. To master daydreaming, try priming your brain with pleasant topics and timing it when you're minimally occupied.
Daydreaming can have significant upsides for creativity, particularly in professions where workers deeply care about their work. However, when professional identification is lacking, daydreaming compromises performance. The study's findings suggest that most businesses could benefit from removing the stigma around daydreaming at work.
A recent study from Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that daydreaming during meetings or at work might not be as bad as thought. Participants with more efficient brains scored higher on intellectual and creative ability tests.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that the default mode network plays a crucial role in switching to 'autopilot' during familiar tasks. The DMN enables fast and accurate responses by leveraging memory associations, suggesting an essential function beyond mere daydreaming.
Researchers found that stimulating frontal lobes with low-level electricity increases mind wandering, which is associated with improved task performance. The study suggests that the frontal lobes play a causal role in mind wandering behavior and may contribute to behavioral outcomes like creativity and mood.
Researchers analyzed 1.6 billion connections within the brain and found highest agreement between structure and information flow in the default mode network, responsible for inward-focused thinking. The study suggests that the structural architecture of the brain ensures automatic switching to something useful when not being used.
Research suggests that fantasizing about idealized future scenarios can influence people's preferences for learning about the positives over negatives. This can impact decision-making, even for those considering careful deliberations. Positive fantasies can mimic the effects of intentions and lead to biased information acquisition.
Researchers discovered that daydreaming about distant memories can improve memory recall and reduce remembering of recent events. Participants who thought about a vacation within the U.S. remembered more words than those who thought about an overseas trip.
A new study finds that brain regions associated with complex problem-solving are highly active during daydreaming, challenging the long-held notion that these areas are dormant. This suggests that daydreaming may be an important cognitive state for unconsciously tackling important problems in life.
Research shows doodling while listening can significantly improve memory recall, with participants recalling an average of 7.5 names of people and places compared to 5.8 non-doodlers. Doodling helps maintain focus on the main task without affecting performance.
Research suggests that ADHD impacts movement control differently in boys and girls, with girls showing better coordination skills despite having the disorder. Girls with ADHD are twice as likely to perform movements typically expected for their age compared to boys with ADHD.