Cited by 668Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Intrinsic Architecture Underlying the Relations among the Default, Dorsal Attention, and Frontoparietal Control Networks of the Human Brain

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Spreng, R. Nathan, Sepulcre, Jorge, Turner, Gary R., Stevens, W. Dale, Schacter, Daniel L.·2013·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

Abstract

Human cognition is increasingly characterized as an emergent property of interactions among distributed, functionally specialized brain networks. We recently demonstrated that the antagonistic “default” and “dorsal attention” networks—subserving internally and externally directed cognition, respectively—are modulated by a third “frontoparietal control” network that flexibly couples with either network depending on task domain. However, little is known about the intrinsic functional architecture underlying this relationship. We used graph theory to analyze network properties of intrinsic functional connectivity within and between these three large-scale networks. Task-based activation from three independent studies were used to identify reliable brain regions (“nodes”) of each network. We then examined pairwise connections (“edges”) between nodes, as defined by resting-state functional connectivity MRI. Importantly, we used a novel bootstrap resampling procedure to determine the reliability of graph edges. Furthermore, we examined both full and partial correlations. As predicted, there was a higher degree of integration within each network than between networks. Critically, whereas the default and dorsal attention networks shared little positive connectivity with one another, the frontoparietal control network showed a high degree of between-network interconnectivity with each of these networks. Furthermore, we identified nodes within the frontoparietal control network of three different types—default-aligned, dorsal attention-aligned, and dual-aligned—that we propose play dissociable roles in mediating internetwork communication. The results provide evidence consistent with the idea that the frontoparietal control network plays a pivotal gate-keeping role in goal-directed cognition, mediating the dynamic balance between default and dorsal attention networks.

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  • Supporting evidence comes from neuroimaging studies reporting activation within the lateral prefrontal cortex, a core hub of the executive control network.

    “Supporting evidence comes from neuroimaging studies reporting activation within the lateral prefrontal cortex, a core hub of the executive control network (ECN; 3, 33).”
  • The frontoparietal control network and salience network may mediate internally and externally directed cognition by maintaining a dynamic balance between the default and attention networks.

    “The FPCN (as well as the salience network; Box 3) may in turn, mediate internally and externally directed cognition by maintaining a dynamic balance between the default and attention networks.15,155,160,162,163”
  • Spreng and colleagues' resting-state functional connectivity MRI and graph analyses found little positive connectivity between default and dorsal attention networks, high connectivity between each of these networks and the frontoparietal control network, and preferential pairwise connectivity among core network nodes.

    “the authors observed little positive connectivity between default and dorsal attention networks, accompanied by a high degree of connectivity between each of these networks and the FPCN, with preferential patterns of pairwise connectivity amongst core network nodes (Fig. 5).”

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Authors
Spreng, R. N., Sepulcre, J., Turner, G. R., Stevens, W. D., & Schacter, D. L.
Affiliations
  • Cornell University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • York University (CA)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (JP)
Venue
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
Publisher
MIT Press
Published
2013-01-01
Volume
25
Issue
1
Pages
74-86
ISSN
  • 0898-929X (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-8898
OpenAlex
W2156466649
Cited by
668
References
117
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 57 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 67 · 2016: 70 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 3
FWCI
19.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • eScholarship@McGill (McGill) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ag008441-30)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01-AG008441)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 060941, R01MH060941)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
default mode network, dorsal attention network, frontoparietal network, large-scale brain networks, resting-state functional connectivity, network integration, goal-directed cognition, bootstrapping, graph theory
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Net, Neuropsychological Tests, Young Adult

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