On a daily basis, you spend between a third and half of your waking hours daydreaming. That may sound like a huge waste of time, but scientists think it must have some purpose, or humans wouldn't have evolved to do so much of it. So, what exactly happens in the brain while you daydream? Elizabeth Cox takes a closer look at the science of daydreaming through the mind of a teenager. [Directed by Biljana Labović, narrated by Alexandra Panzer and Hani Furstenberg, music by Weston Fonger].

Elizabeth Cox: The benefits of daydreaming

The benefits of daydreaming

Teenagers, with their developing executive functions, excel in problem-solving and goal-setting when allowed to daydream.

Daydreaming harnesses the brain's default mode network to navigate relationships and achieve goals, offering more than mere escapism.

Imaging studies reveal that synchronized activity of the executive and default mode networks is key to enhancing creative thinking.