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Annu Rev Psychol January 2015 PMID 25293689

The science of mind wandering: empirically navigating the stream of consciousness.

Jonathan Smallwood, Jonathan W Schooler

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Mentions

137
Peak: 4 in Nov 2019
across 6 sources since Nov 2019

Extended reach

218,521
potential audience

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31

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375

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Nov 2019 – Nov 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions highlight a strong interest in the research, exemplified by posts referencing the article's relevance to creativity and consciousness, such as the comment on the disruptive effects of external factors on independent thinking. The tone varies from reflective to inquisitive, with some posts emphasizing the importance of understanding the stream of consciousness for cognitive and societal benefits.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most posts show support or curiosity about the research, with some expressing admiration for its insights into consciousness.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions demonstrate high interest, referencing the article and related studies, and contemplating their broader implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts engage with the topic through sharing opinions, linking to further readings, and raising questions about its societal relevance.

ImpactModerate impact

While some acknowledge the significance of understanding mind wandering, the overall impact appears moderate, mainly sparking curiosity rather than prompting concrete actions.

Abstract in brief

  • Mind wandering is a fluid and dynamic aspect of consciousness where attention shifts from a task to unrelated thoughts, involving perceptual decoupling, episodic, and affective processes, regulated by executive control.
  • The phenomenology of mind wandering, including its content and its relation to metacognition, influences whether its outcomes are beneficial or detrimental, highlighting a complex balance of costs like errors and benefits such as enhanced creativity and future planning.
  • Various strategies can be used to reduce its negative effects while preserving its productive aspects, emphasizing its integral role in the stream of consciousness and overall cognitive functioning.]
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Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Tristan Bekinschtein
@TrikBek · X

@_fernando_rosas https://t.co/3PqOQk0LQo like this or like https://t.co/yvDiBm0VJs or like this? https://t.co/oP6x0GVfZ7

Apr 4, 2021 · 7 likes · 3,644 followers View post →
Paul Mobbs
@ramblinactivist · X

Why have I never had a mobile. Is it the ecological footprint, or the mind-zapping rays? No. It's because the disruption to our lifestyles by external factors prevents us from living a conscious, independently creative, serendipitous existence :-) E.g. https://t.co/TxA92X3fje

Nov 12, 2019 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 714 followers View post →
Jonny Smallwood
@the_mindwanders · X

@CharlotteGuo5 These three papers are probably a good starting point, as well as the associated critiques. The middle one is the least philosophical. Let me know if you need help tracking them down https://t.co/qPL31MR04J https://t.co/LAuSLs6A5q https://t.co/1BwaB59QIR

May 12, 2022 · 3 likes · 2,627 followers View post →
紀伊國屋書店「教育と研究の未来」
@Kino_mirai · X

Annual Reviewsのデジタルメディア「Knowable Magazine」掲載のAnnual Review of Phychology著者へのインタビュー記事の和訳がクーリエ・ジャポンに掲載されました。元になった文献はこちら：https://t.co/IOQHxtQcmh @AnnualReviews #マインドワンダリング （KE） https://t.co/ZrN5AhgfMv

Feb 1, 2023 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 996 followers View post →
Narayani Srivastava
@narayanisri.bsky.social · Bluesky

So heart breaking. I still have his paper on my brain "The science of mind wandering: empirically navigating the stream of consciousness". I really wanted to see more of his research work on mw and I really had this thought that he would conquer cancer but...... May his soul rest in peace

Nov 14, 2025 · 2 likes View post →
Shibley
@dr_shibley · X

https://t.co/CxU1xBmmRv

Jul 20, 2020 · 1 like · 27,479 followers View post →

All mentions

Narayani Srivastava
@narayanisri.bsky.social · Bluesky

So heart breaking. I still have his paper on my brain "The science of mind wandering: empirically navigating the stream of consciousness". I really wanted to see more of his research work on mw and I really had this thought that he would conquer cancer but...... May his soul rest in peace

Nov 14, 2025 · 2 likes View post →
Salvador F
@salvadorfg.bsky.social · Bluesky

Smallwood, J., & Schooler, J. W. (2015). The science of mind wandering: Empirically navigating the stream of consciousness. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 487–518. doi.org/10.1146/annu...

Nov 27, 2024 View post →
Justin Marley
@TAWOP · X

The science of mind wandering: empirically navigating the stream of consciousness https://t.co/qucC3L0wCO

Sep 12, 2024 · 4,576 followers View post →
クーリエ・ジャポン
@CourrierJapon · X

RT @Kino_mirai: Annual Reviewsのデジタルメディア「Knowable Magazine」掲載のAnnual Review of Phychology著者へのインタビュー記事の和訳がクーリエ・ジャポンに掲載されました。元になった文献はこちら：https…

Feb 1, 2023 · 2 shares · 88,693 followers View post →
紀伊國屋書店 (Books Kinokuniya) 公式
@Kinokuniya · X

RT @Kino_mirai: Annual Reviewsのデジタルメディア「Knowable Magazine」掲載のAnnual Review of Phychology著者へのインタビュー記事の和訳がクーリエ・ジャポンに掲載されました。元になった文献はこちら：https…

Feb 1, 2023 · 2 shares · 64,696 followers View post →
紀伊國屋書店「教育と研究の未来」
@Kino_mirai · X

Annual Reviewsのデジタルメディア「Knowable Magazine」掲載のAnnual Review of Phychology著者へのインタビュー記事の和訳がクーリエ・ジャポンに掲載されました。元になった文献はこちら：https://t.co/IOQHxtQcmh @AnnualReviews #マインドワンダリング （KE） https://t.co/ZrN5AhgfMv

Feb 1, 2023 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 996 followers View post →
Jonny Smallwood
@the_mindwanders · X

@JoeBarnby @PhilCorlett1 @PLOSCompBiol Here is a loose version of the component process idea https://t.co/LAuSLs6A5q

Sep 14, 2022 · 1 like · 2,627 followers View post →
Jonny Smallwood
@the_mindwanders · X

@CharlotteGuo5 These three papers are probably a good starting point, as well as the associated critiques. The middle one is the least philosophical. Let me know if you need help tracking them down https://t.co/qPL31MR04J https://t.co/LAuSLs6A5q https://t.co/1BwaB59QIR

May 12, 2022 · 3 likes · 2,627 followers View post →
鵲
@IGASASAK · X

Smallwood, Jonathan & Schooler, Jonathan. (2014). The Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness. Annual review of psychology. 66. 10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015331. https://t.co/n4DKFvKUF2 興味あらば、これを読むといい。p.507がベネフィット。

May 5, 2022 · 2,086 followers View post →
Jordan James Etem
@JordanJamesEtem · X

@Nasdaq @HomeStreetBank Smallwood, J., and J.W. Schooler. 2015. The science of mind wandering: Empirically navigating the stream of consciousness. Annual Review of Psychology 66: 487–518. $NAVI $EEFT $COWN $MSFT $ORCL @adenatfriedman

Aug 9, 2021 · 12,649 followers View post →
Tristan Bekinschtein
@TrikBek · X

@_fernando_rosas https://t.co/3PqOQk0LQo like this or like https://t.co/yvDiBm0VJs or like this? https://t.co/oP6x0GVfZ7

Apr 4, 2021 · 7 likes · 3,644 followers View post →
Shibley
@dr_shibley · X

https://t.co/CxU1xBmmRv

Jul 20, 2020 · 1 like · 27,479 followers View post →
electricnoøne
@electricnoone · X

The Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness (2015) https://t.co/JInEkyEq4B The wandering brain: Meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of mind-wandering and related spontaneous thought processes (2015) https://t.co/z3ieIakSRJ

Apr 10, 2020 View post →
Stc
@StcStasi · X

"Being busy is killing our ability to think creatively" https://t.co/4TNDe2aFA8 ---- The Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness https://t.co/zeGbNyIA4J

Nov 12, 2019 · 1 like · 522 followers View post →
Nina Tailor
@ninatailor2 · X

RT @ramblinactivist: Why have I never had a mobile. Is it the ecological footprint, or the mind-zapping rays? No. It's because the disrupt…

Nov 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 6,494 followers View post →
ExtinctReal #JulianAssange is Free! #JSO5 JAILED
@ExtinctReal · X

RT @ramblinactivist: Why have I never had a mobile. Is it the ecological footprint, or the mind-zapping rays? No. It's because the disrupt…

Nov 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 320 followers View post →
Paul Mobbs
@ramblinactivist · X

Why have I never had a mobile. Is it the ecological footprint, or the mind-zapping rays? No. It's because the disruption to our lifestyles by external factors prevents us from living a conscious, independently creative, serendipitous existence :-) E.g. https://t.co/TxA92X3fje

Nov 12, 2019 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 714 followers View post →