Celebrating International Imagination Day – time to daydream
Perhaps you, like me, were told off for daydreaming or having your ‘head in the clouds’ as a child.
My teachers were adamant that my imagination was an optional extra that got in the way of getting down to work – and ultimately getting on in the world.
But the more I learn about how my brain really works, the clearer it gets that daydreaming isn’t the ‘icing in the cake’ – it’s an essential ingredient for the cake itself!
This recent review of the neural correlates of mind-wandering explains the fundamental role of this process in making sense of the outside world, offering some insights into why the gentle drifting feeling can tip over into distressing hallucinations for those living with degenerative diseases – 20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis.
Essentially, daydreaming is generated by an interconnected network of brain regions known as the ‘default mode network’ that is typically suppressed when you’re focused on the world outside. But when that data stream of sensory inputs is compromised – or you simply decide to ‘tune out’ – your brain switches to this ‘default’ mode of internally-focused processes, such as memory, self-reflection or projection into the future
While traditionally, the DMN has been considered a ‘resting state, ’ brain imaging studies demonstrate a critical role in high-level cognitive functions involved in developing and sustaining a sense of self. Changes in that network may even be an early warning sign of dementia – Early detection of dementia with default-mode network effective connectivity.
At the same time, the structures of the brain involved in the process of imagination – from perception to projection, storage and retrieval, shift in neurodegenerative diseases – as fascinating work on the role of the hippocampus in memory suggests – Shaping the Space: A Role for the Hippocampus in Mental Imagery Formation.
So could lighting help?
1. Anchoring
Provide a rich and coherent visual environment – and make sure occupants can see and hear clearly too.
That will help them to navigate that threshold between reality and imagination – A neural basis for distinguishing imagination from reality.
Recent research suggests that just over 30% of residential care home residents suffer from visual impairment and 40% from hearing loss, associated with lower social engagement, which is in turn linked to cognitive decline – Social engagement and cognitive impairment among nursing home residents: The role of sensory impairment.
2. Timing
It gets harder to maintain that critical reality threshold when your brain is tired or bored.
Experimental studies in non-clinical populations also demonstrate that light intensity and spectrum influence attention and working memory — the very functions that help distinguish imagination from perception – Effects of Ambient Bright Light on Neurobehavioral Symptoms in Dementia: A Systematic Review.
Late-day agitation or ‘sundowning’ has been linked to visual hallucinations as well as a lack of light exposure during the day and lack of sleep at night – Effects of applying biodynamic lighting on improving sleep, depression, and agitation in older adults with dementia: a pilot clinical trial.
Simply taking a walk in the late afternoon can reduce the risk of sundowning and improve sleep – Effects of walking on sundown syndrome in community-dwelling people with Alzheimer’s disease.
When light supports orientation in space and time, the mind is less likely to wander into distressing territory.
3. Encouraging positive reminiscence
Imagination and memory are not the enemy.
They are a vital source of identity, comfort and meaning — when they are supported.
For residential care providers:
- Prioritise strong, even daytime light in communal spaces to support alertness and engagement
- Reduce visual ambiguity in the late afternoon: soften contrast without dimming too early
- Use consistent lighting cues around meals, activities and rest
- Ensure faces and familiar objects are well illuminated — people anchor memory more than spaces
For informal carers and families:
- Share reminiscence earlier in the day, when cognitive control is stronger
- Sit near windows or in well-lit areas when talking about the past
- Use objects, photographs and textures that are clearly visible
- Avoid memory-heavy conversations in very low or uneven light, especially in the evening.
The aim is not to stop the mind from wandering — but to give it a safe place to wander from.
Bottom line
Memory, imagination and perception are closely linked.
As cognition becomes fragile, the boundary between them depends increasingly on the environment.
Light helps hold that boundary in place.
Not by overwhelming the senses — but by making the world just clear enough that the mind doesn’t have to invent one of its own.
And when memory does surface, supported by light, time and familiar cues, it is far more likely to arrive as comfort — not confusion.
Business as usual?
• If you’re a healthcare provider putting together budgets for a refurb in the next couple of years and wondering if you can get away with a bog standard ‘like for like’ replacement on the lighting, do put the kettle on and log onto this lunch and learn session with Lee McCarthy, Fanny Burrows and I, expertly chaired by the brilliant Charlotte Burrows, on the 10th of February.
• We’ll be reviewing the latest research into the potential for evidence-led lighting to improve outcomes and compliance, reduce cost and risk, while helping you to meet the NHS Net Zero targets. We’ll also share practical information about the new Part L regulations coming down the line – business as usual is not an option. We’ll also share some real-world examples of these principles in practice. I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Michelle McClure about some of he topics we’ll cover – a link to her article is here.
Look forward to seeing you there! Link to join is here.
Rain stopped play
It’s tempting to stay indoors on a gloomy day.
It’s even harder to get someone else up and out, especially if you’re busy and they’re a bit wobbly on their feet.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, research suggests that one-third of people living in residential care get outside less than once per month – Understanding the Barriers and Enablers to Using Outdoor Spaces in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review.
And yet, if you can make the effort, just 15 minutes outside will give you a well-deserved boost— reducing stress, heart rate and blood pressure – and help to set your body clock too – Does spending time outdoors reduce stress? A review of real-time stress response to outdoor environments.
Interestingly, this study suggests that on cloudy days, a view of a pond or a lake view (and more restricted view of the sky) is better than a view wiith a wide horizon, concluding that ‘in areas with frequent overcast conditions, incorporating serene water bodies could be advantageous, while regions with predominantly sunny weather should encompass spaces with expansive sky views – Cloudy or sunny? Effects of different environmental types of urban green spaces on public physiological and psychological health under two weather conditions.
Given the weather in Bridport this week, I reckon I need to invest in a water feature!