Boredom Works in Mysterious Ways

Thus far, very few studies have ever sought to understand boredom, its causes and effects, and potential ways to get rid of it. This state is extremely common, and can have disastrous consequences if the people doing the boring are airplane pilots on transatlantic flights or bus drivers.

Boredom oftentimes leads to feeling disengaged, which in turn impairs attention, and increases the chances of accidents happening. Overall, chronic boredom can reduce people's quality of life, and can also become a chronic stress factor.

A new study by UK scientists looked at the mental processes that lead to boredom. Their work is detailed in the latest issue of the esteemed journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, PsychCentral reports. The team says that the connection between boredom and attention can be better understood.

There are several ways to do that, but a combination of cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, and clinical psychology might prove more effective, the group adds.