The Journey of the Default Mode Network: Development, Function, and Impact on Mental Health
F. R. Azarias, Gustavo Henrique Doná Rodrigues Almeida, Luana Felix de Melo, R. Rici, D. Maria
Biology April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/biology14040395 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | The Default Mode Network is crucial for self-reflection, emotional processing, social interaction, and mental exploration, and its study may improve treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions. |
Abstract
Simple Summary The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a brain network that becomes active when the brain is at rest. It is crucial for processes like self-reflection, emotional processing, social interaction, and mental exploration. Research has shown that the DMN is not exclusive to humans but is also found in non-human animals, suggesting its evolutionary importance across species. The DMN plays a significant role in brain development, especially during childhood and adolescence, where it shapes cognitive and emotional abilities. This review explores the structural, functional, and evolutionary aspects of the DMN and its impact from early development through adulthood. Understanding how the DMN operates can deepen our knowledge of how the brain supports thinking, behavior, and mental health. This knowledge can, in turn, lead to more effective treatments for various neuropsychiatric conditions. By studying the DMN, we gain insights into the neural mechanisms behind cognition and behavior, which could help develop better therapeutic strategies for mental health disorders.
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
Cited by 12
- Testosterone modulation of default mode network and its effects on cognitive function and mood in humans: a systematic review Frontiers in Neuroscience September 14, 2026
- Default Mode Network (DMN) for Human Five Senses and Sensory Environments Asploro Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Case Reports August 18, 2026
- Disrupted self-referential processing and empathy-based interventions in mental disorders: neural mechanisms, cognitive biases, and therapeutic integration Frontiers in Psychiatry July 6, 2026
- THE PSYCHEDELIC AND KETAMINE RENAISSANCE IN THE FACE OF THE CRISIS IN MODERN PSYCHIATRY International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science June 15, 2026
- Classic psychedelics in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a circuit-based framework Nature Mental Health April 1, 2026
and 7 more in the library
Cites 31
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- The Brain's Default Mode Network Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015
- Resting-State Functional Connectivity Reflects Structural Connectivity in the Default Mode Network Cerebral Cortex April 9, 2008
- Experience sampling during fMRI reveals default network and executive system contributions to mind wandering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 26, 2009
- Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity in Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology March 29, 2012
and 26 more in the library