Altered resting-state connectivity within default mode network associated with late chronotype
Charlotte Mary Crisp, Ray Norbury preprint
Later chronotype (eveningness) is linked to decreased connectivity within the brain's default mode network (DMN), particularly in the bilateral posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus. This pattern of reduced DMN connectivity resembles that seen in people with depression and in other at-risk populations, suggesting a neural mechanism that may partly explain why late chronotype individuals have a higher risk of developing depression. The effect might be driven by self-critical thoughts common in evening types, but direct investigation is still needed.