The science of a wandering mind
The parts of the brain involved in mind wandering are referred to as the default mode network,2 because it is activated automatically when the brain isn’t focused on specific tasks.
Steven Hayes • A Liberated Mind: The essential guide to ACT
The mind-wandering mode works in opposition to the central executive mode: When one is activated, the other one is deactivated; if we’re in one mode, we’re not in the other.
Daniel J. Levitin • The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload
Essentially, the DMN is responsible for brain activity when a person is focused inward, including during wakeful rest, daydreaming, mind-wandering, and reminiscing. It allows us to carry out self-referential processing, or the ability to reflect on ourselves.
James Doty • Mind Magic
“Such a paradigm shift may help us accept our drifting mind as a normal, even necessary, part of our mental existence—and may even enable us to try to take advantage of it in some creative, enjoyable way.”33
Scott Barry Kaufman • Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind
Mind wandering, focused thinking and selective attention can all be strengthened with practice. Giving yourself the time and space to think without distraction can lead to new ideas and perspectives.