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The Common Neural Basis of Autobiographical Memory, Prospection, Navigation, Theory of Mind, and the Default Mode: A Quantitative Meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
A core brain network has been proposed to underlie a number of different processes, including remembering, prospection, navigation, and theory of mind [Buckner, R. L., & Carroll, D. C. Self-projection and the brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11, 49–57, 2007]. This purported network—medial prefrontal, medial-temporal, and medial and lateral parietal regions—is similar to that observed during default-mode processing and has been argued to represent self-projection [Buckner, R. L., & Carroll, D. C. Self-projection and the brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11, 49–57, 2007] or scene-construction [Hassabis, D., & Maguire, E. A. Deconstructing episodic memory with construction. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11, 299–306, 2007]. To date, no systematic and quantitative demonstration of evidence for this common network has been presented. Using the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) approach, we conducted four separate quantitative meta-analyses of neuroimaging studies on: (a) autobiographical memory, (b) navigation, (c) theory of mind, and (d) default mode. A conjunction analysis between these domains demonstrated a high degree of correspondence. We compared these findings to a separate ALE analysis of prospection studies and found additional correspondence. Across all domains, and consistent with the proposed network, correspondence was found within the medial-temporal lobe, precuneus, posterior cingulate, retrosplenial cortex, and the temporo-parietal junction. Additionally, this study revealed that the core network extends to lateral prefrontal and occipital cortices. Autobiographical memory, prospection, theory of mind, and default mode demonstrated further reliable involvement of the medial prefrontal cortex and lateral temporal cortices. Autobiographical memory and theory of mind, previously studied as distinct, exhibited extensive functional overlap. These findings represent quantitative evidence for a core network underlying a variety of cognitive domains.
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“Consistent with this perspective, the DMN is implicated in a broad range of tasks probing social cognition and communication, with consistent activation patterns reported in the PCC, mPFC, AG, and adjoining temporal parietal junction. 42,43”
From 20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis. (2023) · cites this paper as [43]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
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“The DMN includes medial cortical structures, such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex, and it is critical to negative self-referential processing such as rumination and worrying known to go awry in depression (35–38).”
From Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a novel RDoC-based treatment program for adolescent depression: "Training for Awareness Resilience and Action" (TARA)-A pilot study (2017) · cites this paper as [35]
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“The DMN plays a crucial role in episodic memory operations, particularly those related to personally relevant details of remembered experiences.”
From 20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis. (2023) · cites this paper as [43]
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“ToM, autobiographical memory and resting-state cognition have been proposed to draw on a shared ‘core’ network including mPFC, precuneus, posterior cingulate and TPJ (Spreng et al., 2009).”
From The brain's conversation with itself: neural substrates of dialogic inner speech (2016) · cites this paper as Spreng et al., 2009
In the citing paper
“The profound deficits in simulating future events exhibited by patients with semantic dementia, despite a relative preservation of past episodic memory, suggest that other forms of self-projection, such as theory of mind, empathy and moral reasoning (Spreng et al., 2009), may also be compromised.”
From Considering the role of semantic memory in episodic future thinking: evidence from semantic dementia (2012) · cites this paper as Spreng et al., 2009
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“Recent studies suggest that the DMN consists of several subnetworks with diverse and specialized roles, including subnetworks specific for self-referential or social cognitive processing [Menon, 2011;Spreng et al., 2009], or differentiating between the self and others [van Veluw and Chance, 2014].”
From Specific default mode subnetworks support mentalizing as revealed through opposing network recruitment by social and semantic FMRI tasks: Mentalizing and Default-Mode Subnetworks (2015) · cites this paper as Spreng et al., 2009
In the citing paper
“The results of the meta-analysis of ToM were consistent with earlier quantitative analyses”
From Parsing the neural correlates of moral cognition: ALE meta-analysis on morality, theory of mind, and empathy (2012) · cites this paper as Spreng et al. 2009
In the citing paper
“Similar brain mechanisms in remembering past episodes and envisioning future circumstances is supported by their engagement of identical brain areas, as evidenced by a quantitative meta-analysis (Spreng et al. 2009).”
From Parsing the neural correlates of moral cognition: ALE meta-analysis on morality, theory of mind, and empathy (2012) · cites this paper as Spreng et al. 2009
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Metadata
- Authors
- Spreng, R. N., Mar, R. A., & Kim, A. S. N.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- York University (CA)
- Venue
- Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
- Publisher
- MIT Press
- Published
- 2009-03-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 489-510
- ISSN
- 0898-929X (ISSN-L)
- 1530-8898
- OpenAlex
- W2144421443
- Semantic Scholar
- 65ab3415072bded398074af8ecc57f410ed75b07
- Cited by
- 2,143
- References
- 241
- Citations by year
- 2026: 83 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 107 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 112 · 2021: 158 · 2020: 139 · 2019: 148 · 2018: 131 · 2017: 174 · 2016: 143 · 2015: 141 · 2014: 137 · 2013: 156 · 2012: 131
- FWCI
- 31.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eScholarship@McGill (McGill) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- 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
- autobiographical memory, prospection, navigation, theory of mind, default mode network, self-projection, scene construction, medial prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lobe, precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, retrosplenial cortex, temporoparietal junction, activation likelihood estimation
- MeSH terms
- Autobiographies as Topic, Brain, Brain Mapping, Diagnostic Imaging, Humans, Memory, Models, Psychological, Meta-Analysis as Topic
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