Hemodynamic Correlates of Electrophysiological Activity in the Default Mode Network
Marco Marino, Giorgio Arcara, Camillo Porcaro, Dante Mantini
Frontiers in Neuroscience October 4, 2019 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01060 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Keywords | Resting state High-Density EEG FMRI Alpha rhythm |
| Key findings | Alpha oscillations correlate more strongly than other frequency bands with BOLD signals in default mode network regions during resting state. |
Abstract
Hemodynamic fluctuations in the default mode network (DMN), observed through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), have been linked to electrophysiological oscillations detected by electroencephalography (EEG). It has been reported that, among the electrophysiological oscillations, those in the alpha frequency range (8–13 Hz) are the most dominant during resting state. We hypothesized that DMN spatial configuration closely depends on the specific neuronal oscillations considered, and that alpha oscillations would mainly correlate with increased blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal in the DMN. To test this hypothesis, we used high-density EEG (hdEEG) data simultaneously collected with fMRI scanning in 20 healthy volunteers at rest. We first detected the DMN from source reconstructed hdEEG data for multiple frequency bands, and we then mapped the correlation between temporal profile of hdEEG-derived DMN activity and fMRI–BOLD signals on a voxel-by-voxel basis. In line with our hypothesis, we found that the correlation map associated with alpha oscillations, more than with any other frequency bands, displayed a larger overlap with DMN regions. Overall, our study provided further evidence for a primary role of alpha oscillations in supporting DMN functioning. We suggest that simultaneous EEG–fMRI may represent a powerful tool to investigate the neurophysiological basis of human brain networks.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A default mode of brain function Normal adult human brain | 2001 | Observational study | |
| Resting-State Functional Connectivity Reflects Structural Connectivity in the Default Mode Network Healthy subjects | 2008 | Observational cohort | |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| The precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in the default mode network: Evidence from a partial correlation network analysis Healthy subjects | 2008 | Observational study |
Citations in the library
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- Selfhood triumvirate: From phenomenology to brain activity and back again. Consciousness and Cognition November 1, 2020
- Processing of self-related thoughts in experienced users of classic psychedelics: A source localisation EEG study. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry January 10, 2025
- Processing of self-related thoughts in experienced users of classic psychedelics and non-users: a source localisation EEG study February 3, 2024
- Spontaneous thought orientation tracked by fMRI networks and EEG alpha power dynamics bioRxiv Preprint Server October 31, 2025
- Electrocortical Indices of Default Mode Network-Related Activity in ADHD and Modulation Through Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Brain Topography June 26, 2026
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Cites 6
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- Frontal theta EEG activity correlates negatively with the default mode network in resting state International Journal of Psychophysiology July 13, 2007
- BOLD correlates of EEG alpha phase-locking and the fMRI default mode network Neuroimage January 15, 2009
- The default mode network and EEG alpha oscillations: An independent component analysis Brain Research June 3, 2011
- Shared and connection-specific intrinsic interactions in the default mode network Neuroimage October 1, 2019
and 1 more in the library