As of: March 28, 2024, 8:30 p.m
By: Judith Braun
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A mechanism in the brain brings daydreamers back to the present. It could be disturbed in neurological diseases such as dementia.
Daydreamers dwell on their thoughts, reminisce or imagine future scenarios - and are not in the here and now, but rather somewhere else in their head. If the situation requires it - for example because another person speaks to them directly - they can end their daydreams in a flash and return to the present. A specific part of the brain is responsible for this switching back to reality. Researchers have now been able to identify a connection between this area of the brain and the underlying mechanism of daydreaming and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's dementia. This could be a promising approach for exploring new therapeutic options.
New study discovers connection between daydreaming and dementia
A mechanism in the brain that brings daydreamers back to reality could be disrupted in people with dementia. © Uwe Umstätter/IMAGO
When daydreaming or remembering the past, an electroencephalogram (EEG) can be used to measure a specific neuronal activity, also known as “sharp wave ripples”. Now, in their study published in the journal
Nature
, neuroscientists at Standford University have discovered in experiments with mice that another signal is active in this state. This originates from the dentate gyrus. This is a part of the brain and a part of the hippocampus that is responsible for memory formation (learning processes, sequences of actions, memories of potential dangers).
The dentate gyrus divides at the tip into the so-called dendrites. These support the brain when it is currently in “offline” mode and direct its focus back to the present: by absorbing information, processing it and helping daydreamers to reorient themselves in their surroundings. As the neuroscientists were able to determine in their study, the nerve impulses from the dentate gyrus interrupt the “sharp wave ripples” and thus tear people out of their daydreams. It is now suspected that this mechanism could also play a role in neurological disorders.
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Mechanism of daydreaming could be disturbed in dementia patients
Accordingly, there are two neurological mechanisms in the hippocampus: They alternately allow our attention to drift and bring it back on track, as the knowledge magazine
scinexx.de
reports. However, this mechanism could be disrupted in some neurological diseases, including:
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AD(H)S
schizophrenia
post-traumatic stress disorder
epilepsy
Alzheimer
For example, those affected by one of these illnesses are constantly thinking about the past, reacting extremely strongly to events or getting lost in daydreams. In Alzheimer's patients, the dentate gyrus could be so altered that no new memories are stored in these people's brains. These current findings could provide a promising approach to paying attention to this brain area in future therapy research.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.