你害怕无聊吗？哈佛大学教授亚瑟·C·布鲁克斯指出，无聊并非是靠刷手机就能逃避的问题。他认为，为无聊腾出空间， 能让我们在脑海中有更多余地去思考关于意义和目标的深刻问题。 你需要感受无聊。倘若你从未感受过无聊，那么你生活的意义将会减少，且更容易陷入抑郁，这道理再浅显不过。首 先，我们来谈谈无聊带来的益处。当处于无聊状态时，我们的认知活动会处于闲置，进而促使思维系统切换到大脑的一 个部分 —— 默认模式网络。这名称听着颇为专业，实则并非如此。 默认模式网络是大脑中的一组结构，当你无事可想时就会启动。比如，你忘了带手机，坐在交通灯前等待。这时，默认 模式网络就开始工作了。但我们并不喜欢这种状态。 我在哈佛心理学系的同事丹·吉尔伯特做过实验，让人们坐在一个房间里15分钟，要求他们什么都不做，房间里也确实没 什么可做的，只是他们面前有个按钮，按下按钮就会给自己来一次痛苦的电击。要么无聊地坐着，要么电击自己。结 果，大多数参与者选择了电击，也不愿什么都不想。 我们不喜欢无聊。无聊太糟糕了。为什么无聊这么让人难以忍受呢？因为默认模式网络会让我们思考一些可能令人不安 的事情。当你放空思绪，任由大脑游荡，就会思考诸如人生意义这 ...

Core Insights - The research indicates that the brain's energy consumption during focused cognitive tasks is only about 5% higher than in a resting state, challenging the perception that deep thinking is significantly more energy-intensive [1][4][6] - The brain's primary function is to maintain operations and manage physiological systems rather than solely focusing on explicit cognitive tasks [2][5][6] Energy Consumption - The human brain accounts for approximately 20% of the body's energy resources despite only comprising about 2% of body weight, with infants consuming nearly 50% [3][6] - Energy for brain function primarily comes from ATP, synthesized from glucose and oxygen, with a vast network of capillaries supplying these resources [3][4] Cognitive Activity - The study reveals that even when not actively engaged in tasks, the brain is highly active, managing internal physiological parameters and maintaining homeostasis [5][6] - The brain's "default mode network" operates during rest, processing thoughts related to past, present, and future experiences [5][6] Evolutionary Perspective - The brain's energy efficiency is a result of evolutionary adaptations to resource-scarce environments, leading to a natural tendency to conserve energy [6][7] - The optimal firing rate of neurons is significantly lower than theoretical limits, indicating an evolutionary strategy focused on maximizing information transfer efficiency while minimizing energy expenditure [7][8]

Core Insights - The phenomenon of "blank mind" is identified as a unique cognitive state related to physiological arousal levels, rather than a mere distraction [1][2] - The international research team suggests that blank mind should be viewed as a cognitive state regulated by varying levels of physiological arousal [1][2] Summary by Sections Definition and Characteristics - Blank mind occurs when the brain temporarily reduces processing of external and internal information, leading to a lack of thought content [1] - It is distinct from mind-wandering, where thoughts still jump between different topics [2] Frequency and Conditions - Individuals experience blank mind for an average of 5% to 20% of their time, with variations among different people [2] - It is more likely to occur after prolonged attention tasks, sleep deprivation, or intense physical exercise [2] - Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience blank mind more frequently than their peers [2] Neurophysiological Findings - Brain imaging and electrophysiological studies show that during blank mind, there is a decrease in signal complexity and reduced activity in areas related to attention, language, and memory [2] - This state resembles observations made in unconscious states, contrasting with the activation of the "default mode network" during mind-wandering [2] Future Research Directions - The research team aims to promote targeted studies on blank mind, including its relationship with meditation and its potential as a clinical biomarker for neurological and psychiatric disorders [2]