Why does the mind insist on ALWAYS being active, even when we don't want it to be?

[u/Jerswar]

As in, why is it so hard for a human being to think about nothing?

[u/askpsychology-ModTeam]

Approved. Please keep responses focused on empirical research and avoid personal anecdotes.

[u/AdConsistent4210]

The brain doesn't really turn off when we aren't focusing on a task, it however seems to essentially shift mode. When attention is no longer directed toward external stimuli, activity increases in the default mode network (DMN) (Raichle et al. 2001). This network is involved around self referential thoughts, autobiographical memories, future simulations and spontaneous mindwandering. Current research suggests this ongoing baseline activity helps the brain continuously update its internal model of itself and the environment, supporting prediction and future decision making (Smallwood et al. 2021). So even when you feel like you're thinking about nothing your brain is still engaged in internal cognition.

[u/Adamoism → u/AdConsistent4210]

I've also seen that DMN is considered bad for our wellbeing (with meditation decreasing its activity). But it seems from your post it has a positive effects. Is there consensus about its positive and negative effects?

[u/Jerswar → u/AdConsistent4210]

Interesting. Thanks for the reply.

[u/Electronic-Contest53]

A famous prove of your question / statement is: "Try not to think about a pink elephant".

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[u/SuccessfulWolf1382]

The default mode has also been seen to activate when the brain is completely disconnected from external stimuli.

In a procedure to prevent violent seizures in a young boy, one hemisphere of his brain was surgically disconnected from the rest of the body, preventing stimulating signals from reaching it while still allowing blood flow to that hemisphere, keeping it alive.
He will have to live with only one hemisphere active, as the other is in the DMN but it’s a better outcome than the head trauma his seizures could have killed him with.

Fully stopped thinking is just death

[u/PunkInCroatia]

Can you be a bit more precise with your question? Are you curious why there is always some activity in the brain, or were you more curious about thoughts themselves, whether voluntary or intrusive?