Where Do Imaginations Come from?

But where does the imagination actually come from? Experts say that real life events help form imagination. In fact, human brains often use information stored in memories to come up with the things people imagine. If you've been WONDERing with us for a while, you know how memories are stored.

What is the source of imagination?

But a new study purports to show exactly where it comes from in the human brain. Previous theories said that the imagination was created in many parts of the brain all intertwined together. The researchers told 15 participants to imagine specific abstract shapes and combine them with other figures.

Where does imagination take place?

The answer, Dartmouth researchers conclude in a new study, lies in a widespread neural network — the brain's “mental workspace” — that consciously manipulates images, symbols, ideas and theories and gives humans the laser-like mental focus needed to solve complex problems and come up with new ideas.