People often think that going mindless means “not thinking about anything.” But what actually happens in the brain during these moments? A study explains.
To have a blank mind is an expression that is used a lot, but it is not very precise. In principle, we could say that it refers to the state in which a person does not think about anything in particular or varies between one irrelevant idea and another , without stopping at any. It is also linked to situations in which no answer appears for a question or the next action to be taken is not identified.
It involves having a very scattered or unfocused attention. In this regard, a group of scientists from the University of California set out to find out what happens in the brain when a person is in this state.
The results of the research were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The research represents a significant advance in our understanding of the brain. Let’s take a look at what it’s all about.
“A calm and blank mind is like a still lake, which can clearly reflect everything around it.”
~ Lao Tzu ~
Clearing the mind, a study on the subject
The aforementioned study on what happens when you “whiten” your mind was carried out by a team of nine researchers, led by Dr Mladen Sormaz, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of York. The project was divided into two experiments.
In the first, they recruited 145 participants and asked them to perform a 12-minute task, which required intense mental effort. They were then separated into three groups: one that continued working on a demanding task, another in which volunteers did a relaxation and meditation exercise, and a third that sat in a quiet room, doing nothing, for 12 minutes.
In the second experiment, the researchers recruited another 50 participants. They were then given a 15-minute task involving the processing of complex visual information. They were then divided into two groups: one group continued to work on the task, and the other group sat in a room in silence and doing nothing for 15 minutes.
In both studies, they measured participants’ brain activity before and after the different tasks, using a brain imaging technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Key findings
The main finding of the experiment was to identify that when the mind goes blank, there is a pattern of brain activity known as the Default Mode Network (DMN ) .
The DMN is a neural network that operates when we are not focused on any particular task. It is believed to be related to cognitive processes such as introspection, imagination, memory and the consolidation of new memories, explains an article in Nature Reviews Neuroscience . From the above, the following basic conclusions were reached:
- The different brain networks that are activated during the resting mental state would be an indicator of the health and cognitive capacity of the brain .
- The pattern of brain activity at rest would predict future mental performance. Consequently, mental states at rest would be indicators of cognitive ability .
- Resting brain activity may be the basis for future-directed mental activity. The brain appears to use “downtime” to plan and prepare for future tasks and actions.
So, is it possible to clear your mind?
In short, the researchers found that brain regions that process sensory information, such as sight and hearing, are active even when the mind is left blank. This indicates that the brain is continuously analyzing the environment and processing information , even when we are not aware of it.
The study could help people understand that blank or seemingly unproductive moments of idleness are not necessarily a waste of time , but can be useful for processing subconscious information and making connections between different thoughts and experiences.
Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of taking time to disconnect and allow the mind to wander, which would benefit mental and emotional well-being.