Activation and Connectivity within the Default Mode Network Contribute Independently to Future-Oriented Thought.
Xiaoxiao Xu1,2, Hong Yuan1,2, Xu Lei1,2
1Sleep and Neuroimaging Center, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Scientific Reports
|February 13, 2016
Summary
Future-oriented thought involves projecting oneself into the future, engaging distinct parts of the default mode network (DMN). Research shows the anterior DMN (aDMN) is active for present self-reflection, while the posterior DMN (pDMN) is key for future thinking.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Future-oriented thought, or projecting oneself into the future, is associated with the default mode network (DMN).
- The DMN comprises anterior (aDMN) and posterior (pDMN) subsystems, typically linked to self-referential thought and memory/scene construction, respectively.
- The specific roles of these subsystems and their connectivity during future thinking remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct functional contributions of the anterior and posterior DMN (aDMN and pDMN) during future-oriented thought.
- To examine the functional connectivity between the aDMN and pDMN during prospective self-reflection.
- To differentiate neural processes underlying future self-projection versus present self-reflection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a neuroimaging experiment comparing future-oriented decisions (Future Self) with present self-referential decisions (Present Self).
- Included control conditions focusing on non-personal semantic knowledge for both future and present scenarios (Future Non-Self Control, Present Non-Self Control).
- Analyzed brain activity and functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) across conditions.
Main Results:
- The anterior DMN (aDMN) showed preferential activation during reflection on present states.
- The posterior DMN (pDMN) was preferentially activated during reflection on personal future states.
- A significant decrease in functional connectivity between the aDMN and pDMN was observed during future-oriented thought compared to other conditions.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest distinct roles for the aDMN and pDMN in processing present versus future self-related information.
- Altered functional connectivity between aDMN and pDMN may be a key neural mechanism underlying future-oriented thought.
- These results contribute to understanding the neural basis of prospection and self-projection.
More Related Videos
11:02Combining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and fMRI to Examine the Default Mode Network
Published on: December 28, 2010
13.5K
09:01A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
Published on: May 7, 2014
10.6K
Related Concept Videos
01:19High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
897
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
897
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
1.1K
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
1.1K
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
276
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
276
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.4K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.4K
01:17Cognitivism
3.4K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
3.4K
01:15Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
260
Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...
260