Conceptualizing Mind Wandering Using a Systems Approach: a Preliminary Exploration

Mind wandering (MW) is a very common cognitive activity of the human mind. In recent times studying its functional correlates have gained the attention of cognitive scientists and psychologists. Most studies have focussed on neurophysiological studies to model and explain it. The current article explores the phenomenological dimensions of MW and attempts to develop a model based on content of thoughts. The author proposes that a complex adaptive system (CAS) is a suitable explanatory model. If so, the patterns of thoughts are emergent properties of a range of subsystems such as emotions, memories and external environmental stimuli. Creativity of humans can be attributed to these emergent thoughts. These may have implications in our understanding of mental distress (e.g. rumination) and illness.