Capturing the spatiotemporal dynamics of self-generated, task-initiated thoughts with EEG and fMRI.
Neuroimage July 1, 2019 Lucie Bréchet, Denis Brunet, Gwénaël Birot et al.
The study used ultra-high field fMRI and high-density EEG to investigate the neural basis of self-generated thoughts. Participants engaged in two conditions: retrieving self-relevant past memories or performing serial mental arithmetic. fMRI showed increased activity in temporal, parietal, and occipital areas during memory retrieval, organized into subsystems for scene reconstruction and self-experience. EEG microstate analysis revealed that specific brief periods of stable brain activity were modulated differently between conditions, linking these fast temporal dynamics to the slower fMRI changes. The findings suggest that fMRI networks related to mental activity can be captured by EEG as brief, recurring periods of coherent neuronal activity.