The default mode network: where spontaneous thought meets memory consolidation.
Devayani Joshi, Alexa Tompary, Aaron Kucyi
Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences February 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101622 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | DMN activity during spontaneous thought promotes the propagation of reactivated information to aid memory consolidation. |
Abstract
The default mode network (DMN) is a distributed set of brain regions engaged during wakeful rest. Spontaneous thoughts - internally directed mental experiences that arise with relative freedom and few constraints on their content or transitions - are ubiquitous during wakeful rest. Spontaneous memory reactivation - neural events in which recently learned information is reinstated - also occurs at rest and has a fundamental role in long-term memory consolidation. Here, we synthesize emerging behavioral, theoretical, and neurophysiological evidence suggesting that DMN activity associated with spontaneous thought provides a neural context that promotes the propagation of reactivated information to aid consolidation. We highlight findings linking spontaneous thought to improved memory performance, discuss how specific DMN subsystems coordinate with the hippocampus during reactivation, and highlight recent studies that connect spontaneous thought content to memory reactivations. We conclude by outlining future directions to clarify the mechanistic role of spontaneous thought in memory consolidation mediated by the complex interplay between the DMN, hippocampus, and broader cortical networks.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Brain's Default Mode Network | 2015 | Review | |
| Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity in Psychopathology | 2012 | Review | |
| 20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis | 2023 | Review | |
| On the relationship between the “default mode network” and the “social brain” | 2012 | Review | |
| The default mode network and social understanding of others: what do brain connectivity studies tell us Healthy subjects, with some studies on patients with autism and psychopathy | 2014 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- Experience sampling during fMRI reveals default network and executive system contributions to mind wandering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 26, 2009
- 20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis Neuron May 10, 2023
- Cooperation between the default mode network and the frontal–parietal network in the production of an internal train of thought Brain Research April 15, 2011
- Dynamic functional connectivity of the default mode network tracks daydreaming Neuroimage June 25, 2014
and 4 more in the library