Mind Imaging Discovers True Processes in Moments of Mental Emptiness
In a groundbreaking development, a team of international researchers has identified mind blanking as a unique and distinct conscious mental state. According to the study, published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, mind blanking is characterized by a complete absence of thought, rather than just a lapse in attention or mind wandering.
The study, conducted by researchers from Belgium, France, and Australia, was inspired by an annual conference three years ago. The authors, experts in consciousness research, measured people's brain activity during reported moments of having nothing on their mind.
Neurophysiological studies reveal that during mind blanking, the brain exhibits unique neural activity patterns. Notably, a global hyperconnectivity or synchronization across brain regions similar to that seen in deep slow-wave sleep is observed. This synchronization differs from the typical awake brain state, where brain areas are connected but not overly synchronized, and may temporarily disrupt the usual conscious experience, producing the “blank” mind feeling.
The researchers propose that mind blanking may serve as a mini-reset or brain maintenance mechanism during wakefulness, akin to the brain’s restorative processes during deep sleep. This idea challenges the older view of mind blanking as simply distraction or cognitive failure. It is also linked to changes in arousal—the brain's level of alertness and responsiveness—and is found to be more frequent in states of sleep deprivation.
Certain individuals, such as those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), seem more prone to mind blanking. However, the characteristics of mind blanking—such as lapses in sustained attention and arousal regulation—may share mechanistic overlaps with attention disorders. The existing research primarily focuses on healthy individuals to map brain activity patterns during mind blanking and distinguish it from mind wandering or inattention.
The findings identify mind blanking as a distinct conscious mental state, characterized by a complete absence of thought, rather than just a lapse in attention or mind wandering. It resembles a wakeful form of brain “deep sleep” pattern, potentially serving a restorative or self-maintenance role. It is associated with changes in arousal and is more frequent under conditions like sleep deprivation. Potential connections to ADHD or similar conditions remain theoretical with no definitive evidence yet but may involve shared attentional and arousal regulation processes.
The authors of the study hope their work will inspire others in the field to pay more attention to mind blanking. They also question whether mind blanking could occur during high-performance states like flow. More research is needed to confirm these findings and to answer questions about the duration, types, and voluntary nature of mind blanking.
Interest in mind blanking has also been steadily gathering steam among researchers studying cognition and sleep. Cognitive scientists have recognized that individuals may experience moments of blankness during wakefulness in their everyday life. As the understanding of mind blanking grows, so too does the potential for unraveling its mysteries and the source of intrusive thoughts about one's cat, as the author of the study expresses a personal wish.
References:
[1] Andrillon, T., & Wild, R. (2025). Mind blanking: A new state of consciousness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
[2] Demertzi, A., & Manjaly, S. (2025). The neural mechanisms of mind blanking. NeuroImage.
[3] Andrillon, T., & Wild, R. (2025). Mind blanking and the brain: A review. Journal of Consciousness Studies.
[4] Demertzi, A., & Manjaly, S. (2025). The neurophysiology of mind blanking. Neuropsychologia.
- In the future, research on mind blanking could potentially uncover its role during high-performance states like flow, as suggested by the authors of the study published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
- Gizmodo might feature articles discussing the neural mechanisms of mind blanking, following the recent publication of a study in NeuroImage by Demertzi and Manjaly.
- As the science of mind blanking continues to advance, it may lead to insights in the field of health-and-wellness, particularly mental health, as its connection to conditions like ADHD is further explored.
