【解説】2026年度共通テスト英語 第7問

Mind-Wandering: Lost in Thought

Rodin’s sculpture The Thinker represents a man absorbed in thought. People may wonder if he is thinking about life’s deep questions. Likewise, teachers may wonder what students sitting at their desks are thinking about─are they focusing on their schoolwork, or are they just daydreaming?

It is natural for the mind to switch between periods of focus and periods of rest. Even when we are supposed to be concentrating, we may not be paying attention to the task at hand. Scientists have found that we engage in daydreaming, also known as “mind-wandering,” approximately 50% of the time we awake. While our minds are wandering, we are not thinking about anything special but our brains naturally come up with ideas, images, and emotions. In short, mind-wandering is a shift away thoughts on the current task to other unrelated thoughts.

Our understanding about mind-wandering has grown over time. Past studies argued that mind-wandering was not merely a waste of time but actually quite harmful. Mind-wandering was found to negatively influence our mood, leading to work-related mistakes, traffic accidents, and even mental conditions such as depression. New research, however, shows that mind-wandering also has positive effects which can enrich our lives in various ways.

One such effect is that mind-wandering helps us generate creative ideas. In fact, some of our best ideas become apparent when our mind are wandering. To access these ideas, however, our brains sometimes require a period of time, just like eggs need time to hatch. This is called the “incubation period.” This interval away from the problem is critical because during that time our brains are unconsciously sorting through pieces of information and association them with the problem. This enables us to come up with a fresh solution, which appears when we least expect it, for example, when we are on a walk or taking a shower.

What is really going on in the brain when the mind wanders? Previously, the brain was thought to be in a passive state at this time. However, through neuroimaging research conducted in 2001 in the US, more than dozen regions of the brain were found to be active during mind-wandering. These regions, as a whole, were named the Default Mode Network (DMN). Moreover, according to a study conducted in 2022 by researchers based in Norway and the Netherlands, the DMN was more active when participants were performing a low-effect task compared to a high-effort task.

How can we make use of new discoveries in brain science and increase the number of unique benefits that mind-wandering has to offer? Here are four tips to help expand your mind. First, make time for simple activities such as doing the dishes or taking a warm bath. When involved with these undemanding tasks, our mind is free to wander around. Next, we can just go outside. For example, when we are in a forest, we are able to relax in nature and our mind can more easily spread out in all directions. Another suggestion is to get enough quality sleep each night. This will not only improve our mood, but enable the brain to be more receptive to new ideas. Finally, when we wake up in the morning, we should try to notice any thoughts that occur before we get out of bed. In this half-sleep state, our mind tends to wander and our ideas can flow more freely.

We will not always be able to control all of our thoughts. However, if we are aware of when and how mind-wandering happens, we may be able to take advantage of its seemingly random nature.

Scientists have found that we engage in daydreaming, also known as “mind-wandering,” approximately 50% of the time we awake.
科学者たちは、私たちが起きている時間の約50%を夢想、つまり「mind-wandering」に陥っていることを発見しました。

In short, mind-wandering is a shift away thoughts on the current task to other unrelated thoughts.
つまり、mind-wandering とは、現在取り組んでいる課題に関する思考から、無関係な思考へと移ることです。

Mind-wandering was found to negatively influence our mood, leading to work-related mistakes, traffic accidents, and even mental conditions such as depression.
mind-wandering は気分に悪影響を及ぼし、仕事上のミス、交通事故、さらにはうつ病などの精神状態につながることが分かっています。

This interval away from the problem is critical because during that time our brains are unconsciously sorting through pieces of information and association them with the problem.
問題から離れるこの時間は非常に重要です。なぜなら、その間、脳は無意識のうちに情報を整理し、問題と関連付けているからです。

One such effect is that mind-wandering helps us generate creative ideas.
その効果の一つは、mind-wandering によって創造的なアイデアが生まれることです。

To access these ideas, however, our brains sometimes require a period of time, just like eggs need time to hatch. This is called the “incubation period.”
しかし、これらのアイデアにアクセスするには、卵が孵化するのに必要な時間のように、脳が一定の時間を必要とすることがあります。これは「incubation period」と呼ばれます。

This interval away from the problem is critical
問題から離れるこの時間は非常に重要です。

This interval away from the problem is critical because during that time our brains are unconsciously sorting through pieces of information and association them with the problem.
問題から離れるこの時間は非常に重要です。なぜなら、その間、脳は無意識のうちに情報を整理し、問題と関連付けているからです。

This will not only improve our mood, but enable the brain to be more receptive to new ideas.
これは気分を良くするだけでなく、脳が新しいアイデアをより受け入れやすくします。

Previously, the brain was thought to be in a passive state at this time. However, through neuroimaging research conducted in 2001 in the US, more than dozen regions of the brain were found to be active during mind-wandering.
これまで、この時間帯の脳は受動的な状態にあると考えられていました。しかし、2001年に米国で行われた神経画像処理研究により、mind-wandering の間に脳の12以上の領域が活性化していることが明らかになりました。

However, through neuroimaging research conducted in 2001 in the US, more than dozen regions of the brain were found to be active during mind-wandering.
しかし、2001年に米国で行われた神経画像処理研究により、mind-wandering の間に脳の12以上の領域が活性化していると導かれました。

Moreover, according to a study conducted in 2022 by researchers based in Norway and the Netherlands, the DMN was more active when participants were performing a low-effect task compared to a high-effort task.
さらに、2022年にノルウェーとオランダの研究者によって行われた研究では、参加者が高負荷のタスクよりも低負荷のタスクを行っているときに、DMNがより活発に活動することが示されました。

Previously, the brain was thought to be in a passive state at this time.
これまで、この時間帯の脳は受動的な状態にあると考えられていました。

Another suggestion is to get enough quality sleep each night.
もう一つの提案は、毎晩十分な質の良い睡眠をとることです。

Next, we can just go outside. For example, when we are in a forest, we are able to relax in nature and our mind can more easily spread out in all directions.
次に、外に出てみましょう。例えば、森の中では自然の中でリラックスでき、心をあらゆる方向に広げやすくなります

First, make time for simple activities such as doing the dishes or taking a warm bath.
まず、皿洗いや温かいお風呂に入るなど、シンプルな活動に時間を割いてみましょう。

Finally, when we wake up in the morning, we should try to notice any thoughts that occur before we get out of bed.
最後に、朝起きたら、ベッドから出る前に浮かんだ考えに気づくようにしましょう。