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Cited by 785Memory Processes and InfluencesMemory and Neural MechanismsCognitive Functions and Memory

Neural substrates of envisioning the future

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Szpunar, Karl K., Watson, Jason M., McDermott, Kathleen B.·2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.0610082104PMC PMC1761910
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Abstract

The ability to envision specific future episodes is a ubiquitous mental phenomenon that has seldom been discussed in the neuroscience literature. In this study, subjects underwent functional MRI while using event cues (e.g., Birthday) as a guide to vividly envision a personal future event, remember a personal memory, or imagine an event involving a familiar individual. Two basic patterns of data emerged. One set of regions (e.g., within left lateral premotor cortex; left precuneus; right posterior cerebellum) was more active while envisioning the future than while recollecting the past (and more active in both of these conditions than in the task involving imagining another person). These regions appear similar to those emerging from the literature on imagined (simulated) bodily movements. A second set of regions (e.g., bilateral posterior cingulate; bilateral parahippocampal gyrus; left occipital cortex) demonstrated indistinguishable activity during the future and past tasks (but greater activity in both tasks than the imagery control task); similar regions have been shown to be important for remembering previously encountered visual-spatial contexts. Hence, differences between the future and past tasks are attributed to differences in the demands placed on regions that underlie motor imagery of bodily movements, and similarities in activity for these two tasks are attributed to the reactivation of previously experienced visual–spatial contexts. That is, subjects appear to place their future scenarios in well known visual–spatial contexts. Our results offer insight into the fundamental and little-studied capacity of vivid mental projection of oneself in the future.

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  • Recent fMRI studies have found comprehensive overlap in activation patterns associated with recalling the past and thinking about plausible self-relevant future events.

    “Perhaps it is not altogether surprising therefore that recent fMRI studies have found comprehensive overlap in the activation patterns associated with recalling the past and thinking about plausible self-relevant future events (Addis et al., 2007; Szpunar et al., 2007).”

    From Using Imagination to Understand the Neural Basis of Episodic Memory (2007) · cites this paper as Szpunar et al., 2007

    The Results report regions activated during both recollection and envisioning personal future events, including regions with statistically indistinguishable activity. But the Discussion also reports regions more active for future events than past ones, so describing the overlap as comprehensive overstates this paper's finding. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Previous studies comparing episodic memory and future thinking could not make this distinction because these features were present to a similar degree in autobiographical memories and personal future scenarios.

    “Previous studies that have compared episodic memory and future thinking were unable to make this distinction because these features were present to a similar degree in both autobiographical memories and personal future scenarios (Atance and O'Neill, 2001; Addis et al., 2007; Szpunar et al., 2007).”

    From Using Imagination to Understand the Neural Basis of Episodic Memory (2007) · cites this paper as Szpunar et al., 2007

  • Episodic memories are used in many important cognitive functions beyond recall of past events.

    “Episodic memories are thought to be involved in a variety of important cognitive processes beyond simply recalling past events.”

    From Episodic Memory in AI Agents Poses Risks that Should be Studied and Mitigated (2025) · cites this paper as [77]

  • Brain imaging studies have shown that similar brain regions are recruited during recall of episodic memories and other tasks.

    “First, brain imaging studies have shown that similar brain regions are recruited during recall of episodic memories and other tasks [77].”

    From Episodic Memory in AI Agents Poses Risks that Should be Studied and Mitigated (2025) · cites this paper as [77]

  • Memory and imagination engage the same brain networks, including the default mode network.

    “Neuroimaging has revealed that memory and imagination engage the same brain networks, including the default mode network (DMN; Addis, Wong, & Schacter, 2007;Okuda et al., 2003;Szpunar, Watson, & McDermott, 2007; see Figure 1).”

    From Mental Time Travel? A Neurocognitive Model of Event Simulation. (2020) · cites this paper as Szpunar, Watson, & McDermott, 2007

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2 of the 60 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 11

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Authors
Szpunar, K. K., Watson, J. M., & McDermott, K. B.
Affiliations
Washington University in St. Louis (US)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2007-01-09
Volume
104
Issue
2
Pages
642-647
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.0610082104
PMC
PMC1761910
OpenAlex
W2098699616
Cited by
784
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 66 · 2012: 58
FWCI
29.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords
mental time travel, future events, personal memories, event simulation, motor imagery, premotor cortex, precuneus, posterior cerebellum, posterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyrus
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Brain, Female, Forecasting, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Memory, Thinking

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