The Surprising Benefits of Daydreaming: Insights from Harvard Studies

Scientists at Harvard University have found preliminary evidence that daydreaming, or quiet reflection, may play a vital role in memory and learning. In a study involving mice, researchers observed that when the mice were unstimulated and in a calm state, their visual cortex continued to visualize an image even after it was removed from sight. This "daydream" effect was associated with reactivation of neural patterns and improved stimulus response. While it is unclear if the same applies to humans, previous studies have shown that recalling images increases brain activity in the visual cortex and hippocampus. However, excessive or inappropriate daydreaming may have negative effects on cognition.