Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Why Our Minds Wander
Speaker
Professor Arnaud Delorme
Coordinator
David Guggenheim
This talk will explore the human mind’s natural
tendency to drift away from the present moment
into realms of imagination and reflection. How our
brains engage in spontaneous thought processes,
while often seen as distractions, play a crucial
role in creativity, problem-solving and emotional
processing. We will delve into the mechanisms and
reasons behind mind-wandering, blending scientific
research with philosophical insights. Members are
invited to reconsider the value of daydreaming,
offering a fresh perspective on how we can harness
the natural tendencies of our minds to enrich our
lives.
tendency to drift away from the present moment
into realms of imagination and reflection. How our
brains engage in spontaneous thought processes,
while often seen as distractions, play a crucial
role in creativity, problem-solving and emotional
processing. We will delve into the mechanisms and
reasons behind mind-wandering, blending scientific
research with philosophical insights. Members are
invited to reconsider the value of daydreaming,
offering a fresh perspective on how we can harness
the natural tendencies of our minds to enrich our
lives.
Speaker Bio
Presenter: Arnaud Delorme is a Professor at
the Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France,
where he received his Ph.D. in 2000. He is an
adjunct faculty member at the Swartz Center for
Computational Neuroscience at UC San Diego and
a consulting research scientist at the Institute of
Noetic Sciences in Novato, CA .
the Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France,
where he received his Ph.D. in 2000. He is an
adjunct faculty member at the Swartz Center for
Computational Neuroscience at UC San Diego and
a consulting research scientist at the Institute of
Noetic Sciences in Novato, CA .
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