Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Wandering Mind
Scientific American
|July/August 2025
Zoning out aids learning hidden patterns in tasks
While you do the dishes or drive to work, your mind is likely not on the task at hand; perhaps you're composing a grocery list or daydreaming about retiring in Italy.
But research published in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests you might be taking in more than you think.
During a simple task that requires minimal attention, mind wandering may actually help people learn probabilistic patterns that let them perform the task better.
This story is from the July/August 2025 edition of Scientific American.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Scientific American
Scientific American
Will We Run Out of Rare Earth Elements?
These valuable but difficult-to-extract metals are increasingly important to modern life
1 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
Copyright Laws Can Stop Deepfakes
The U.S. should give its residents rights to their own face and voice
4 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
50, 100 & 150 Years
“The list of first-aid procedures that the medical profession encourages laypeople to undertake is short because of concern that tactics applied in ignorance may do more harm than good.
3 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
Dramatic Atmosphere
Exoplanet TOI-561 b has air where none should persist
2 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
The Mother of Depressions
Postpartum depression is a leading cause of death among new mothers. A new type of drug offers better, faster treatment
16 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
Going Rogue
A massive study may improve the prediction of dangerous rogue waves
3 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
Phages Caught Sleeping
Bacteria use hibernating viruses to immunize themselves
2 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
THE COVERT HERBARIUM OF CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY
A century ago a father and a son labored to replicate the intricate structure of nearly eight hundred species of plants in four thousand delicate models.
1 min
December 2025
Scientific American
Are AI Chatbots Healthy for Teens?
Kids crave approval from their peers. Chatbots offer an alternative to real-life relationships, but they can come at a price
5 mins
December 2025
Scientific American
The Myth of the Designer Baby
Parents beware of any genomics firm saying it can help them with “genetic optimization” of their embryos
5 mins
December 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size