Eternal sunshine of the aging mind

By Chris Woolston – Washington University in St. Louis – The Source –

We’re all guilty of letting our minds wander when we’re supposed to be doing something else. A little distraction is likely inevitable. But a study led by Matt Welhaf, a postdoctoral researcher in psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, reveals a surprising trend: Our minds wander less as we age and, when older adults do let their minds drift, they’re more likely to be distracted by pleasant thoughts rather than worries.

Co-authors of the study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, include Julie Bugg, a professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences, and Jonathan Banks, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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