Cited by 2,767Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesMind wandering and attentionMemory Processes and Influences

Functional-anatomic fractionation of the brain’s default network

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Andrews-Hanna, Jessica R., Reidler, Jay S., Sepulcre, Jorge, Poulin, Renee, Buckner, Randy L.·2010·Neuron

Abstract

One of the most consistent observations in human functional imaging is that a network of brain regions referred to as the "default network" increases its activity during passive states. Here we explored the anatomy and function of the default network across three studies to resolve divergent hypotheses about its contributions to spontaneous cognition and active forms of decision making. Analysis of intrinsic activity revealed the network comprises multiple, dissociated components. A midline core (posterior cingulate and anterior medial prefrontal cortex) is active when people make self-relevant, affective decisions. In contrast, a medial temporal lobe subsystem becomes engaged when decisions involve constructing a mental scene based on memory. During certain experimentally directed and spontaneous acts of future-oriented thought, these dissociated components are simultaneously engaged, presumably to facilitate construction of mental models of personally significant events.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.02.005

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  • Nodes of the medial temporal lobe subsystem of the core network implicated in detailed event and scene processing, such as the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule, exhibit greater activity during divergent thinking tasks compared with various controls.

    “In particular, nodes of the medial temporal lobe subsystem of the core network implicated in detailed event and scene processing (Andrews-Hanna et al. 2010), such as the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule, have been found to exhibit greater activity during these tasks compared with various controls”

    From Neural Mechanisms of Episodic Retrieval Support Divergent Creative Thinking (2019) · cites this paper as Andrews-Hanna et al. 2010

  • Retrieval orientation effects via ESI could be observed not just during formal tasks that recruit episodic mechanisms but during subsequent rest where default or core network activity is also often exhibited.

    “An extension of this logic is that retrieval orientation effects via ESI could be observed not just during formal tasks that recruit episodic mechanisms but during subsequent rest where default or core network activity is also often exhibited (Andrews-Hanna et al. 2010).”

    From Neural Mechanisms of Episodic Retrieval Support Divergent Creative Thinking (2019) · cites this paper as Andrews-Hanna et al. 2010

  • Hierarchical clustering of resting-state and task fMRI data from default network regions identified two separable components, each highly correlated with a midline core.

    “Initial evidence for subsystems within the DN was provided by Andrews-Hanna et al.,50 who used hierarchical clustering analyses to partition RSFC and task-related fMRI data from eleven left-lateralized and midline DN regions into two separable components, each of which were highly correlated with a midline core (Fig. 3A).”
  • Areas within VMPFC are densely interconnected and strongly positively correlated.

    “areas within VMPFC are densely interconnected and strongly positively correlated (38, 59)”
  • Greater precuneus/PCC activation corresponds to a stronger tendency to attach to, ruminate on, and personalize pain appraisals.

    “Thus, in the context of the present data, we propose that greater precuneus/PCC–related activation uniquely corresponds to greater propensity to attach to [32], ruminate on [34] and personalize [3] pain appraisals.”

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Authors
Andrews-Hanna, J. R., Reidler, J. S., Sepulcre, J., Poulin, R., & Buckner, R. L.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-02
Volume
65
Issue
4
Pages
550-562
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1991771535
Cited by
2,767
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 170 · 2025: 174 · 2024: 207 · 2023: 184 · 2022: 190 · 2021: 242 · 2020: 225 · 2019: 196 · 2018: 186 · 2017: 169 · 2016: 154 · 2015: 170 · 2014: 145 · 2013: 145 · 2012: 101
FWCI
67.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (AG021910, R01AG021910, R01AG034556)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
default mode network, intrinsic brain activity, spontaneous cognition, decision-making, posterior cingulate cortex, anterior medial prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lobe, memory-based decision making, emotional decision-making, mental models
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cognition, Emotions, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Imagination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Memory, Nerve Net, Neuropsychological Tests, Cluster Analysis

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