Wandering minds: the default network and stimulus-independent thought.
Despite evidence pointing to a ubiquitous tendency of human minds to wander, little is known about the neural operations that support this core component of human cognition. Using both thought sampling and brain imaging, the current investigation demonstrated that mind-wandering is associated with activity in a default network of cortical regions that are active when the brain is "at rest." In addition, individuals' reports of the tendency of their minds to wander were correlated with activity in this network.
Mason
Malia F
MF
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. malia@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
Norton
Michael I
MI
Van Horn
John D
JD
Wegner
Daniel M
DM
Grafton
Scott T
ST
Macrae
C Neil
CN
D001288:Attention; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology*