Mind-wandering as spontaneous thought: A dynamic framework

Kalina Christoff; Zachary C. Irving; Kieran C.R. Fox; R. Nathan Spreng; Jessica R. Andrews-Hanna

doi:10.1038/nrn.2016.113

Mind-wandering as spontaneous thought: A dynamic framework

Kalina Christoff, Zachary C. Irving, Kieran C.R. Fox, R. Nathan Spreng, Jessica R. Andrews-Hanna

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

916 Scopus citations

Abstract

Most research on mind-wandering has characterized it as a mental state with contents that are task unrelated or stimulus independent. However, the dynamics of mind-wandering-how mental states change over time-have remained largely neglected. Here, we introduce a dynamic framework for understanding mind-wandering and its relationship to the recruitment of large-scale brain networks. We propose that mind-wandering is best understood as a member of a family of spontaneous-thought phenomena that also includes creative thought and dreaming. This dynamic framework can shed new light on mental disorders that are marked by alterations in spontaneous thought, including depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	718-731
Number of pages	14
Journal	Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Volume	17
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2016.113
State	Published - Nov 1 2016
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience

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10.1038/nrn.2016.113

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title = "Mind-wandering as spontaneous thought: A dynamic framework",

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AU - Andrews-Hanna, Jessica R.

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Mind-wandering as spontaneous thought: A dynamic framework

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