Daydreaming Boosts Creativity, Study Suggests

A new study shows that allowing your mind to wander might actually be good for your creative prowess.

Georgia Institute of Technology measured the brain patterns of more than 100 people while they were in an MRI machine. The participants were instructed to focus on a stationary fixation point for five minutes, with the data accumulated used to identify which parts of the brain work in unison.

Once they figured out how the brain works together at rest, the team compared the data with tests that measured the participant’s intellectual and creative ability, and it was discovered that those who reported more frequent daydreaming scored higher and had more efficient brain systems.

The researchers hope the findings open the door for follow-up research to further understand when mind wandering is harmful, and when it may actually be helpful