But where mind-wandering really gets interesting is when it crosses into the realm of free-moving associative thought that you aren't consciously directing.
When people are bored, they have an increase in " associative thought" — the process of making new connections between ideas, which is linked to innovative thinking.
Well, an exciting new theory from Ava Jablonka at Tel Aviv University and Simona Ginsburg at the Open University of Israel hinges around a process called unlimited associative learning.
And this helps explain why consciousness evolved, because according to Jablonka and Ginsburg, unlimited associative learning is only possible if you possess all the abilities associated with consciousness.