What is the default mode network?
Quick Answer
The default mode network is a set of brain regions that is active when the mind is not focused on an external task. It is linked to daydreaming, self-referential thought, and remembering the past.
The Full Story
The default mode network, often abbreviated DMN, includes areas such as the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and parts of the parietal lobe. It was identified through brain-imaging studies in the early 2000s when researchers noticed that certain regions became more active during rest than during task performance. The network is associated with introspection, autobiographical memory, and imagining the future. Abnormal DMN activity has been studied in conditions such as depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and some developmental disorders.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Your brain has a “rest mode”—and it’s doing more than you think."