Subcortical control of the default mode network: Role of the basal forebrain and implications for neuropsychiatric disorders
David D. Aguilar, J. McNally
Brain Research Bulletin May 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.05.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | The authors argue that subcortical basal forebrain regions, including the ventral pallidum and nucleus basalis of Meynert, are functionally and structurally important for regulating default mode network activity, and that specific basal forebrain neuron subtypes regulate cortical gamma oscillations and DMN-like behaviors. They propose that newly identified basal forebrain targets could potentially help restore DMN-associated deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders. |
Abstract
The precise interplay between large-scale functional neural systems throughout the brain is essential for performance of cognitive processes. In this review we focus on the default mode network (DMN), one such functional network that is active during periods of quiet wakefulness and believed to be involved in introspection and planning. Abnormalities in DMN functional connectivity and activation appear across many neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Recent evidence suggests subcortical regions including the basal forebrain are functionally and structurally important for regulation of DMN activity. Within the basal forebrain, subregions like the ventral pallidum may influence DMN activity and the nucleus basalis of Meynert can inhibit switching between brain networks. Interactions between DMN and other functional networks including the medial frontoparietal network (default), lateral frontoparietal network (control), midcingulo-insular network (salience), and dorsal frontoparietal network (attention) are also discussed in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders. Several subtypes of basal forebrain neurons have been identified including basal forebrain parvalbumin-containing or somatostatin-containing neurons which can regulate cortical gamma band oscillations and DMN-like behaviors, and basal forebrain cholinergic neurons which might gate access to sensory information during reinforcement learning. In this review, we explore this evidence, discuss the clinical implications on neuropsychiatric disorders, and compare neuroanatomy in the human vs rodent DMN. Finally, we address technological advancements which could help provide a more complete understanding of modulation of DMN function and describe newly identified BF therapeutic targets that could potentially help restore DMN-associated functional deficits in patients with a variety of neuropsychiatric 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 5
- Two separate neural pathways, lateral and medial, for sensory decisions in mammals: switching of attention between the outer and inner cognitive worlds. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2025
- Altered static and dynamic functional network connectivity between subcortical nuclei and cortical regions of the default mode network in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Frontiers in Neuroscience January 28, 2026
- Classic psychedelics in translational research: addressing epistemic challenges from bench to bedside Philosophical Perspectives on Psychedelic Psychiatry September 13, 2024
- Mediodorsal thalamus and ventral pallidum contribute to subcortical regulation of the default mode network Communications Biology July 23, 2024
- Optogenetic stimulation of anterior insular cortex neurons in male rats reveals causal mechanisms underlying suppression of the default mode network by the salience network. Nature Communications February 16, 2023
Cites 12
- The Brain's Default Mode Network Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015
- Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity in Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology March 29, 2012
- The default mode network in cognition: a topographical perspective Nature Reviews Neuroscience July 5, 2021
- Rat brains also have a default mode network Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences February 21, 2012
- Large-scale topology and the default mode network in the mouse connectome Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences December 15, 2014
and 7 more in the library