The benefits of daydreaming - Elizabeth Cox
Let’s Begin…
On a daily basis, you spend between a third and half of your waking hours daydreaming. That may sound like a huge waste of time, but scientists think it must have some purpose, or humans wouldn’t have evolved to do so much of it. So, what exactly happens in the brain while you daydream? Elizabeth Cox takes a closer look at the science of daydreaming through the mind of a teenager.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Want to know more about how the brain works? Check out this informative video by National Geographic. For a more in-depth look at the structures and functions of the brain, head on over to this video by Bozeman Science.
Check out this TED-Ed playlist and dive into the mysterious inner-workings of our brains; find out what happens when our hippocampus is removed, how much of what we see is hallucinated, how marijuana affects the brain, and more.
The Benefits of Daydreaming and Letting Your Mind Wander
Even though it is often discouraged in traditional classrooms and work environments, many argue that there are upsides to daydreaming, such as reaching your goals, improved creativity, and improved performance on tasks.
Read more here about the benefits of daydreaming and what the science says about it. A research paper published in APS analyzes the benefits of letting your mind wander and other task-unrelated thinking. Another study indicates that daydreamers are better at remembering information in the face of distractions.
Watch the video and finish the Think section to complete the lesson.
About The Science of Adolescence
The adolescent brain is spectacular! Between roughly the ages of 10 and 25, key connections are forming within the brain, between ideas, and between people. Understanding how this “connecting brain” works can help us facilitate positive development and make healthier decisions, enabling us to take advantage of the remarkable potential of these formative years.
Meet The Creators
- Video created by TED-Ed
- Lesson Plan created by TED Ed
