When the mind goes blank: Examining the neurophysiological correlates of mind blanking reports during spontaneous thinking

When we are awake, it is typically assumed that we are thinking of something. While we may explore different contents, such as task-focus engagement or mind-wandering, the mind appears contentful. Yet, the notion of a contentful mind is challenged by brief moments when people cannot report anything about what is in their mind, or they report no available content. This experience is termed mind blanking (MB) and raises the question of whether we can be conscious, yet not conscious of something. In the present talk, we will explore the neurophysiological correlates of MB, in order to advance our understanding of how the brain fails to bring forth content. Firstly, we will review converging evidence from EEG and fMRI showing that MB is tied to cortical profile more akin to sleep rather than wakefulness. Then, we will extend our search for a MB neurophysiological basis to the body and examine how a full matrix of brain-body signals may help us better decode MB reports across different arousal levels compared to solely considering brain signals. By investigating discrete modes of brain-body organization tied to altered physiological arousal, this presentation aims to advance our understanding of how arousal might serve as a background for cognitive process, leading to mental states that permit – or impede- content reportability.