4min snip

Curious Minds at Work cover image

CM 262: Norman Farb on the Science of Sensation

Curious Minds at Work

NOTE

Exploring the Impact of Default Mode Network on Perception and Habit Formation

The default mode network plays a significant role in shaping our habits and perceptions, often leading to automatic and unhelpful responses to stressors. While it serves essential functions, it also perpetuates overlearned behaviors that may not benefit us. To counteract this, engaging in sensory immersion can redirect our brain's resources away from the default mode network, which is metabolically limited, towards more sensory-focused areas. Attention to sensory experiences—such as observing a coffee mug's appearance and weight without interpretation—facilitates this process. This practice disrupts habitual patterns and promotes awareness, allowing us to engage fully with our environment and alter brain activity in a meaningful way. Sensory engagement, therefore, becomes a transformative method to reclaim focus and enhance perception, challenging the default network's dominance in our cognitive processes.

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