What Is the Default Mode Network? The default mode network (DMN) is a system of connected brain areas that show increased activity when a person is not focused on what is happening around them. The ...

When was the last time you were truly bored and let your thoughts run free? Almost whenever we have the chance, we ...

Do you ever wonder why you come up with some of your best ideas in the shower? What about when you are just about to fall asleep? Or maybe when you are going out for a walk on your own? There is a ...

When your mind is wandering, your brain’s “default mode” network is active. Its discovery 20 years ago inspired a raft of research into networks of brain regions and how they interact with each other.

The default mode network (DMN) is a distributed set of interconnected brain regions that has long been associated with internally oriented cognition, such as remembering the past, thinking about the ...

Taking a few minutes to do a puzzle — or stare into space — can allow you to return to work sharper and more creative. By A.C. Shilton It’s 1:02 p.m. Do you know what your brain is doing? If the ...

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Whenever you’re actively performing a task—say, lifting weights at the gym or taking a hard exam—the parts of your brain required to ...