Sweet Daydream

Want to increase your brain power? Spend more time daydreaming. That's the implication of a new brain scan study by New York University neuroscientists. They found if people were allowed to rest their minds after looking at pictures, they were better able to recall what they saw later. In other words, daydreaming improved recall. The researchers conclude that if you don’t give yourself a break, then you may be “hindering your brain’s ability to consolidate memories and experiences.” Their suggestion: Less multitasking and more opportunities for your brain to breath.

Stephen Goforth

Wrapped up in a Daydream

Daydreaming may bring you closer to a solution to problems rather than further away. New research shows letting your mind wander will give parts of your brain time to do a little problem solving.

The University of British Columbia study put people in an fMRI scanner. The less subjects were aware that their mind was wandering off a simple task, the more parts of the brain associated with complex problem-solving lit up. Researchers believe this shows the brain is very active when we daydream – more than when we are simply focused on routine tasks. So while letting your mind wander may hurt your performance in the task at hand, it allows you to work on more significant issues and goals.

Details of the study are in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Stephen Goforth