20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis
Neuron May 10, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.023 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Keywords | Autobiographical memory Narrative Consciousness Cognition Cognitive science Episodic memory Semantic memory Cognitive psychology Linguistics |
| Citations | 832 |
| Key findings | The default mode network integrates memory, language, and semantic representations to create a coherent internal narrative that is central to the sense of self and human consciousness. |
Abstract
The discovery of the default mode network (DMN) has revolutionized our understanding of the workings of the human brain. Here, I review developments that led to the discovery of the DMN, offer a personal reflection, and consider how our ideas of DMN function have evolved over the past two decades. I summarize literature examining the role of the DMN in self-reference, social cognition, episodic and autobiographical memory, language and semantic memory, and mind wandering. I identify unifying themes and propose new perspectives on the DMN's role in human cognition. I argue that the DMN integrates and broadcasts memory, language, and semantic representations to create a coherent "internal narrative" reflecting our individual experiences. This narrative is central to the construction of a sense of self, shapes how we perceive ourselves and interact with others, may have ontogenetic origins in self-directed speech during childhood, and forms a vital component of human consciousness.