a mindful / "zen" meditation would ask you to return to the state of being (i.e. not thinking) after you've noticed that you're thinking, but that's not the technique the scientists are suggesting in the OP, nor what the parent comment is talking about.
Searching for a topic to think about is the kind of creative process they're trying to encourage, and indeed it's not unlike a brief bit of mindfulness, in this case followed by a lengthy period of introspection. Assuming that the introspection doesn't fall into a negative spiral of memories and emotions, this is reasonably mindful in itself.
Searching for a topic to think about is the kind of creative process they're trying to encourage, and indeed it's not unlike a brief bit of mindfulness, in this case followed by a lengthy period of introspection. Assuming that the introspection doesn't fall into a negative spiral of memories and emotions, this is reasonably mindful in itself.