What happens in the brain while daydreaming?

In a Harvard Medical School study, researchers observed neuron activity in the visual cortex of daydreaming mice. They found that neurons fired in patterns similar to when the mice viewed images, suggesting daydreams might influence brain response to visual stimuli.

The study revealed that early daydream patterns could predict future brain responses to the same images, a phenomenon known as "representational drift." This suggests daydreams may help the brain differentiate between various visual stimuli, indicating a role in brain plasticity.

The findings align with evidence that quiet wakefulness improves learning and memory, suggesting daydreams might play a significant role in brain development and cognitive processes. This opens new avenues for understanding daydreams' impact on the brain.