A special part of the brain called the Default Mode Network (DMN) helps us think creatively. This network becomes active when we're daydreaming or letting our minds wander.

In a new study, researchers used a technique called stereo-electroencephalography to study brain activity in 13 people. They looked at the DMN while these people performed tasks that involve creative thinking, like coming up with new uses for everyday objects. They also studied the DMN during mind-wandering tasks.

The study found that the DMN shows different patterns of activity depending on the type of thinking. When people were daydreaming, the DMN had more gamma waves, which are fast brain waves, and fewer theta waves, which are slower. But when people were thinking of new uses for objects, the DMN had more activity at the start of the task and then decreased later.

To see if the DMN is really important for creativity, the researchers used tiny electrical pulses to disrupt the DMN. This made people less creative in their responses but didn't affect their ability to let their minds wander.

This study shows that the DMN is crucial for generating new and original ideas. By understanding how this network works, more can be learned about how the brain supports creativity and how to help people who struggle with creative thinking.