Daydream Believers: Scientists Ask Why Our Minds Wander

ABC:

Zoning out while trying to read this? No offense taken, since all of us do it at least a third of the time that we’re awake.

In recent years a number of academicians have ventured into this previously unexplored territory, trying to figure out why our minds wander while we’re supposed to be paying attention. They were probably spurred on by the blank faces of their students during their stimulating lectures.

But despite considerable interest in determining precisely why we zone out so often, scientists say it is still a bit unclear why we do it. There’s some good news, however. The evidence suggests it doesn’t appear to be all that harmful, except for a couple of studies showing it hinders comprehension and may make you unhappy.

Read the whole story: ABC