The Mind Wanders with Ease

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Stan ◽  
Kalina Christoff
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ongoing Activity ◽  
Spontaneous Thought ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Independent Thought ◽  
Over Time ◽  
The Way

Although mind-wandering has received increased attention in the field of cognitive neuroscience, definitions have not always aligned. Most have emphasized the contents of thought, treating it as synonymous with either task-unrelated thought or stimulus-independent thought. Such definitions miss an important aspect of what it means to let one’s mind wander: the easeful way that thoughts move about. A more recent definition looks, instead, at the dynamics of thought—the way that thoughts unfold over time—positioning mind-wandering as a type of spontaneous thought. By doing so, it is therefore more readily equipped to incorporate this quality of ease. While the term mind-wandering can sometimes refer either to a momentary event or to an ongoing activity, both usages, this chapter argues, will be unsatisfactory if they do not address this gentle mode of movement. Some benefits that ease can provide for future research are proposed.

The Neuroscience of Spontaneous Thought

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica R. Andrews-Hanna ◽  
Zachary C. Irving ◽  
Kieran C.R. Fox ◽  
R. Nathan Spreng ◽  
Kalina Christoff
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Human Mind ◽  
Additional Research ◽  
Science Of Mind ◽  
Mind And Brain ◽  
Spontaneous Thought ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Over Time

An often-overlooked characteristic of the human mind is its propensity to wander. Despite growing interest in the science of mind-wandering, most studies operationalize mind-wandering by its task-unrelated contents, which may be orthogonal to the processes constraining how thoughts are evoked and unfold over time. This chapter emphasizes the importance of incorporating such processes into current definitions of mind-wandering, and proposes that mind-wandering and other forms of spontaneous thought (such as dreaming and creativity) are mental states that arise and transition relatively freely due to an absence of constraints on cognition. The chapter reviews existing psychological, philosophical, and neuroscientific research on spontaneous thought through the lens of this framework, and calls for additional research into the dynamic properties of the mind and brain.

scholarly journals Catching the wandering mind: Meditation as a window into spontaneous thought

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Hasenkamp
Keyword(s):  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Great Utility ◽  
Spontaneous Thought ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Subjective Reports ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Research Recommendations

This chapter considers a form of attention-based meditation as a novel means to gain insight into the mechanisms and phenomenology of spontaneous thought. Focused attention (FA) meditation involves keeping one’s attention on a chosen object, and repeatedly catching the mind when it strays from the object into spontaneous thought. This practice can thus be viewed as a kind of self-caught mind wandering paradigm, which suggests it may have great utility for research on spontaneous thought. Current findings about the effects of meditation on mind wandering and meta-awareness are reviewed, and implications for new research paradigms that leverage first-person reporting during FA meditation are discussed. Specifically, research recommendations are made that may enable customized analysis of individual episodes of mind wandering and their neural correlates. It is hoped that by combining detailed subjective reports from experienced meditators with rigorous objective physiological measures, we can advance our understanding of human consciousness.

How Does the Waking and Sleeping Brain Produce Spontaneous Thought and Imagery, and Why?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Antrobus
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Hard Evidence ◽  
Future Value ◽  
Spontaneous Imagery ◽  
Spontaneous Thought

Although mind-wandering and dreaming often appear as trivial or distracting cognitive processes, this chapter suggests that they may also contribute to the evaluation, sorting, and saving of representations of recent events of future value to an individual. But 50 years after spontaneous imagery—night dreaming—was first compared to concurrent cortical EEG, there is limited hard evidence on the neural processes that produce either visual dreaming imagery or the speech imagery of waking spontaneous thought. The authors propose here an outline of a neurocognitive model of such processes with suggestions for future research that may contribute to a better understanding of their utility.

scholarly journals The Philosophy of Mind-Wandering

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary C. Irving ◽  
Evan Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Philosophy Of Mind ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Philosophical Critique ◽  
Center Stage ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Current Psychological ◽  
Independent Thought

This chapter provides an introduction to the philosophy of mind-wandering. It begins with a philosophical critique of the standard psychological definitions of mind-wandering as task-unrelated thought or stimulus-independent thought. Although these definitions have helped bring mind-wandering research onto center stage in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, they have substantial limitations. They do not account for the dynamics of mind-wandering, task-unrelated thought that does not qualify as mind-wandering, or the ways in which mind-wandering can be task-related. The chapter reviews philosophical accounts that improve upon the current psychological definitions, in particular an account of mind-wandering as “unguided thinking.” It critically assesses the view that mind-wandering can be defined as thought lacking meta-awareness and cognitive agency, as well as the view that mind-wandering is disunified thinking. The definition of mind-wandering as unguided thinking not only is conceptually and phenomenologically precise, but also can be operationalized in a principled way for empirical research.

scholarly journals Young GI Societies in Europe: 2019 update

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henriette Heinrich ◽  
Iago Rodríguez-Lago ◽  
Radislav Nakov ◽  
Vita Skuja ◽  
Pilar Acedo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
The State ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Excellent Quality ◽  
Further Development ◽  
The Way

Background One of the aims of the Young Talent Group (YTG) is to make United European Gastroenterology (UEG) more attractive to young fellows interested in gastroenterology (GI), and to actively involve them in UEG activities and the activities of their respective national societies. In 2017, we conducted a survey among the Friends of the UEG YTG with the aim of identifying the state of organization and needs of Young GI Sections (YGISs) throughout Europe, highlighting areas for further development and improvement. Aims The aim of the current web-based survey was to assess the progress of YGISs over 1 year, and persisting hurdles in forming and running a YGIS. Results Overall, 38 of 42 Friends answered the survey (91%). The number of YGISs has increased significantly from 12 in 2017 to 25 in 2019. Young gastroenterologists remained supported, but not influenced, by national societies. Results of the survey suggest that a lack of dedicated and motivated fellows has replaced a lack of funding as the most prevalent hurdle in forming these types of sections. Conclusion Our survey shows that the development of YGISs has improved markedly within the last 2 years. However, several limitations, like underrepresentation in subcommittees of national societies, remain and need to be addressed in order to involve young gastroenterologists in their respective national societies and within UEG, to pave the way for future research, education and excellent quality of care, and reduce health inequalities across Europe.

scholarly journals Critical appraisal and comparison of recommendations of clinical practice guidelines for treatment of schizophrenia in children and adolescents: a methodological survey protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e038646
Author(s):  
Maíra Ramos Alves ◽  
Cristiane de Cássia Bergamaschi ◽  
Flávia Blaseck Sorrilha ◽  
Izabela Fulone ◽  
Silvio Barberato-Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽  
Practice Guidelines ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Agree Ii ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Over Time

IntroductionThe number of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have increased substantially mainly in the paediatric area of mental health. However, little is known about the quality or how recommendations for the treatment of disorders such as schizophrenia in children and adolescents have changed over time. The aim of this study will be to assess the quality of the development of CPGs for the treatment and management of schizophrenia in children and adolescents over time using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool and to compare the recommendations and interventions described in these documents.Methods and analysisCPGs will be identified using a prospective protocol through a systematic search of multiple databases (Medline, Embase, Health Systems Evidence, Epistemonikos, Lilacs, etc) and guideline websites from 2004 to December 2020. The quality of the guidelines will be assessed by three reviewers, independently using the AGREE II. CPGs will be considered of high-quality if they scored ≥60% in four or more domains of the AGREE II instrument. Non-parametric tests will be used to test for the change of quality over time. We will summarise the different evidence grading systems and compare the recommendations.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required since it is a literature-based study. Future results of the research can be submitted for publication in scientific journals of high impact, peer reviewed and also published in national and international conferences. The results derived from this study will contribute to the improvement of health institutions and policies, informing about existing recommendation guidelines and about deficiencies and qualities found in those. This study may also identify key areas for future research. This study may guide the search and choice for high quality CPGs by health policy makers and health professionals and subsidise future adaptations.Protocol registration numberCRD42020164899.

scholarly journals DA RELAÇÃO CORPO-ALMA À MENTE-CÉREBRO: A ANTROPOLOGIA CRISTÃ E AS NOVAS ANTROPOLOGIAS

2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (129) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
Renato Alves De Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Christian Anthropology ◽  
Mind And Brain ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
The Way

O objetivo deste artigo é mostrar que a questão referente aos dois princípios metafísicos constitutivos da antropologia cristã, o corpo/matéria e a alma/espírito, e a forma de conceber a relação entre eles encontra-se presentes no subsolo das novas antropologias materialistas, mas com um novo verniz através da relação entre a mente e o cérebro. Para a antropologia cristã, a existência do binômio corpo-alma é uma questão resolvida. As discussões se concentram na forma de conceber a relação entre ambos os princípios. Analogamente, para algumas antropologias materialistas atuais, a existência da mente e do cérebro é uma questão fechada. Os confrontos encontram-se na forma de conceber as relações entre a mente e o cérebro: há uma identificação ou distinção entres ambas as realidades? A mente seria uma qualidade emergente do cérebro? ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to show that the question concerning the two constituent metaphysical principles of Christian anthropology, body/matter and soul/spirit, and the way of conceiving the relationship between them is presente in the basement of the new materialist anthropologies, but with a new varnish through the relationship between mind and brain. For Christian anthropology, the existence of the binomial soul/body is a settled issue. The discussions focus on how to design the relationship between the two principles. Similarly, for some current materialistic anthropologies, the existence of the mind and the brain is a closed question. The clashes are the way of conceiving the relationship between mind and brain: Is there an identification or a distinction between the two realities? Would be the mind an emergent quality of the brain?

scholarly journals Neuromodulation of the mind-wandering brain state: the interaction between neuromodulatory tone, sharp wave-ripples and spontaneous thought

2020 ◽  
Vol 376 (1817) ◽  
pp. 20190699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire O'Callaghan ◽  
Ishan C. Walpola ◽  
James M. Shine
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Brain State ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
External Stimulation ◽  
Sharp Wave ◽  
Brain States ◽  
Spontaneous Thought ◽  
The Mind

Mind-wandering has become a captivating topic for cognitive neuroscientists. By now, it is reasonably well described in terms of its phenomenology and the large-scale neural networks that support it. However, we know very little about what neurobiological mechanisms trigger a mind-wandering episode and sustain the mind-wandering brain state. Here, we focus on the role of ascending neuromodulatory systems (i.e. acetylcholine, noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine) in shaping mind-wandering. We advance the hypothesis that the hippocampal sharp wave-ripple (SWR) is a compelling candidate for a brain state that can trigger mind-wandering episodes. This hippocampal rhythm, which occurs spontaneously in quiescent behavioural states, is capable of propagating widespread activity in the default network and is functionally associated with recollective, associative, imagination and simulation processes. The occurrence of the SWR is heavily dependent on hippocampal neuromodulatory tone. We describe how the interplay of neuromodulators may promote the hippocampal SWR and trigger mind-wandering episodes. We then identify the global neuromodulatory signatures that shape the evolution of the mind-wandering brain state. Under our proposed framework, mind-wandering emerges due to the interplay between neuromodulatory systems that influence the transitions between brain states, which either facilitate, or impede, a wandering mind. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Offline perception: voluntary and spontaneous perceptual experiences without matching external stimulation'.

scholarly journals Creation of a participatory database of bioenergy projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Benoit Delcroix ◽  
Diana Clarisse Montaño Navarro ◽  
Simon Barnabé ◽  
Patrice Mangin
Keyword(s):  
International Energy Agency ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Modus Operandi ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Greenhouse Gases Emissions ◽  
The World ◽  
Current Database ◽  
Over Time

Bioenergy is part of the solution to decarbonize energy systems and the economy, and to decrease greenhouse gases emissions drastically. The main goal of this work is to present a participatory database of bioenergy projects, initially based on information available on the International Energy Agency website. This new database aims at being updated over time through data crowdsourcing and being easily exportable in a spreadsheet for further processing. It provides numerous information about bioenergy projects around the world like the types of technology, inputs, outputs, financial information and project status. A detailed overview of the current database is presented, as well as the modus operandi suggested to improve over time this resource through voluntary contributions. The growing quality of this database will serve future research projects and analysis, while being a relevant tool to contribute to the success of the bioenergy sector.

Quality of Use of a Complex Technology

2008 ◽  
pp. 947-964
Author(s):  
Marie-Claude Boudreau ◽  
Larry Sligman
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
System Change ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Complex Information ◽  
Complex Technology ◽  
Over Time

It has been argued that simple conceptualizations of usage are inadequate for understanding and studying use of complex information technologies. In this paper we contend that quality of use, instead of the dichotomy of use versus non-use, is appropriate for understanding the extent to which a complex information technology is being used. An inductive case study of the implementation of a complex information technology was conducted, which led to the development of a learning-based model of quality of use. This model suggests the inclusion of factors relating to training (either formal or informal), learning, and beliefs, their impact on quality of use, and their change over time. Moreover, it describes how quality of use evolves over time as learning increases and perceptions of the system change. Evidence from the case study, along with relationships from the literature, is provided to support the model. Implications for future research are also discussed.

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