Our brains are amazing, wonderful organs.  I have just read an article in the Wall Street Journal about how our "wandering minds lead to insight."  (My husband subscribes to the Journal, and gives me the articles he thinks I'd be interested in.  He's nice that way...)

The article talks about studies done using brain scans and having people solve problems during the scans.  No one seems to be too sure of how our brains directly lead us into insight, but they did learn that even a "wandering mind" - when someone seems to be day dreaming, or not paying attention - is hard at work.  Our brains know answers to problems before we do, if that makes any sense. 

You know that "Ah ha!" moments that we sometimes have?  When we've been struggling with something, and we "stop" thinking about it, and a little later, the answer just seems to come to us?  I remember taking algebra in college (I took it three times in Junior High School; just couldn't seem to get a grasp of it!).  I would do the problems from the text book at home after class, and again I struggled.  There would be at least one problem I just couldn't get, give up and go to sleep. But somehow when I got up in the morning, the answer was just there; it became clear to me.  I thought that somehow my brain kept working on the problem while I slept, and now I see that I was pretty close to the truth! 

The scientists in the study in this article said that "an 'aha' moment is any sudden comprehension that allows you to see something in a different light. It could be the solution to a problem (like my algebra problems!); it could be getting a joke; or suddenly recognizing a face." 

Some of us solve problems through insight, some through analytic reasoning.  They found that the brain wave patterns are different in these two types of problem solving.  Now this is the interesting thing:  our brain is most actively engaged when our mind is wandering, and we've lost track of our thoughts.  So if you're sitting in your therapist's office and they don't seem to be paying attention, or their mind seems to have wandered, they are actually working on your problem!  (Or maybe trying decide what to get for dinner that night...)

These scientists also found that just before the burst of brain waves that signaled insight occurred, there was a lessening of activity in the visual cortex - where our visual input is processed.  This may be like when you are trying to think of something and you reflexively close your eyes, as if that helps you remember something, or think better.  We all do it.

Another interesting tidbit:  the researchers found that mood affects our brain on a physiological level when it comes to insightful thinking.  People in a positive mood were more likely to experience insightful thinking than people in a negative mood.  How you are thinking beforehand is going to affect your problem-solving abilities.  So if you are in a very stressful situation, and have to make a decision or solve a problem, you are less likely to have an insight as to the solution as you are when you are in a positive mood and environment.  Think about where you work - what are the conditions?  Is there a lot of pressure?  Do you feel pressured to come up with answers and solutions on the spur of the moment?  Some people work better under pressure, and under the pressure of deadlines.  These people are more analytical than insightful.

I haven't said anything about psychotherapy in this article - yet.  How can therapy help your brain perform better?  There are a number of ways.  For example, untreated depression might lead to more depression.  It's kind of like a chicken or an egg thing.  Depression might change the physiology of the brain itself, making it more susceptible to more depression.  Left untreated, depression is not something one just "snaps out of," although that would be much simpler.  Many professionals prefer to treat depression with medication, and in many cases that may be the best approach, since depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  However, many people don't want to take antidepressants, or any other kind of medication.  The fact is that researchers have found that the best treatment for depression is a combination of medication and weekly psychotherapy.  The one-to-one interaction with a therapist who listens and understands, and doesn't give advice or interrupt to tell their own story actually has an effect on the physiology in the client's brain.  It is sometimes referred to as a "right-brain to right-brain connection" that is not found in most casual relationships like the ones we have with friends and well-meaning family members.  Other examples of how therapy can help your brain are in talking about trauma, childhood abuse, dealing with a chronic illness or chronic pain among other problems.  There is a connection between our bodies and our minds, and having a therapist to help when needed can make a difference in the quality of one's life and relationships.  Most people don't want to talk about their childhood, especially if there trauma or abuse or it just wasn't a happy time. But now we have scientific evidence that "just talking" does change things, and helps you feel better because just talking can help your brain rewire itself.  Isn't science wonderful?