Dream On

Daydreaming is often associated with idleness: a wandering mind failing to concentrate on the task at hand, the lazy sprawl of an undisciplined brain. However, a UBC study
shows that daydreaming causes increased activity in certain areas of the brain, including those associated with complex problem solving. “This study shows our brains are very active when we daydream, much more active than when we focus on routine tasks,” says psychology professor Kalina Christoff, lead author.

Researchers used a functional Medical Resonance Image scanner to monitor subjects’ brain activity as they performed a very simple task, then measured their level of attentiveness
using the scans to track performance on the task, and recording subjects’ reported experience.

The study results also challenge the popularly held idea that certain areas of the brain aren’t active at the same time. The brain’s default network is associated with routine,
straightforward thinking, and its executive network with more complex thought processes. The study showed both networks were active when subjects were daydreaming. “This is a
surprising finding,” says Christoff. “Until now, we thought they operated on an either-or basis; when one was activated the other was thought to be dormant.” The less aware a subject was of his or her mind wandering, the more active were both brain networks.

The study results, and the fact that the average person daydreams about a third of their waking life, suggest that daydreaming may play an important function. “When you
daydream, you may not be achieving your immediate goal – say reading a book or paying attention in class – but your mind may be taking that time to address more important
questions in your life, such as advancing your career or personal relationships,” says Christoff.

Trek UBC’s Alumni magazine Summer 2009 p. 5