Reduced mind-wandering and fewer depressive symptoms associated with damage to the medial prefrontal cortex and default mode network
Carissa L. Philippi, J. Bruss, Carrie Shea, Nicholas T Trapp, Daniel Tranel, Aaron D. Boes
Neuropsychologia May 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109168 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study using k-means clustering and lesion network mapping Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 68 |
| Population | Patients with brain damage |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | A cluster of 37 of 68 brain-damaged patients, whose lesions were predominantly in the medial prefrontal cortex, showed reduced mind-wandering and fewer depressive symptoms relative to comparison subjects (ps < 0.001). The authors argue that injury affecting the medial prefrontal cortex and default mode network is associated with both lower mind-wandering and fewer depressive symptoms, suggesting a possible neural link between mind-wandering and mood. |
Abstract
Depressive disorders have been consistently associated with elevated levels of mind-wandering and self-focused negative rumination. Separate tracks of research have implicated brain structures within the default mode network (DMN) in both mind-wandering and depression. In this study, we hypothesized that diminished mind-wandering and fewer depressive symptoms would co-occur in individuals with damage to the DMN. To test this hypothesis, we used a k-means clustering algorithm to identify a target group of patients with reduced mind-wandering and fewer depressive symptoms relative to brain-damaged comparison subjects (n = 37 of 68; ps < 0.001). The anatomical localization of lesions for this target group was predominantly within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Structural and functional lesion network mapping results revealed that lesions of the target group had significantly greater connectivity with DMN and limbic regions. Taken together, these results suggest that brain injury affecting the mPFC and DMN is associated with both reduced mind-wandering and fewer depressive symptoms. Further investigation of neuroanatomical substrates that mediate a causal relationship between mind-wandering and mood may facilitate the identification of new therapeutic targets for neuromodulation in patients with disorders characterized by maladaptive mind-wandering, such as rumination.
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
Cites 6
- Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity in Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology March 29, 2012
- The wandering brain: Meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of mind-wandering and related spontaneous thought processes Neuroimage February 25, 2015
- Mindfulness training increases momentary positive emotions and reward experience in adults vulnerable to depression: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology July 18, 2011
- Compassionate hearts protect against wandering minds: Self-compassion moderates the effect of mind-wandering on depression. Spirituality in Clinical Practice August 2, 2018
- Lesion network mapping demonstrates that mind‐wandering is associated with the default mode network Journal of Neuroscience Research November 20, 2019
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