Neural Responses to Heartbeats in the Default Network Encode the Self in Spontaneous Thoughts
Mariana Babo-Rebelo1, Craig G Richter2, Catherine Tallon-Baudry3
1Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives (ENS-INSERM), Département d'Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
Summary
The default network links self-awareness to heartbeats, showing that neural responses to heartbeats in the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- The default network (DN) is implicated in self-related cognition and autonomic regulation.
- Theories suggest selfhood arises from monitoring internal bodily states, like heart activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional coupling between self-processing and cardiac monitoring within the default network.
- To test if neural responses to heartbeats in the DN correlate with the self-relatedness of spontaneous thoughts.
Main Methods:
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to measure neural responses to heartbeats during mind-wandering.
- Participants rated the self-relatedness ('I' and 'Me' dimensions) of their thoughts when prompted.
- Heartbeat-evoked responses (HERs) in the DN were analyzed in relation to self-ratings.
Main Results:
- Neural responses to heartbeats in the ventral precuneus (DN region) covaried with the 'I' dimension of self.
- Neural responses in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (DN region) covaried with the 'Me' dimension of self.
- No correlation was found between self-relatedness and peripheral autonomic measures.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a direct link between selfhood and neural processing of heartbeats within the default network.
- Findings support theories grounding selfhood in the neural monitoring of visceral inputs.
- Self-processing and physiological monitoring are tightly coupled within the DN, even without peripheral autonomic changes.
More Related Videos
11:02Combining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and fMRI to Examine the Default Mode Network
Published on: December 28, 2010
13.5K
10:43Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
15.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:19Conduction System of the Heart
14.4K
Autorhythmicity is a term that refers to the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical signals and instigate muscle contractions. This self-regulating conduction system within the heart consists of two key components: the pacemaker cells and specialized conducting cells.
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
14.4K
01:31Regulation of Heart Rates
4.4K
The regulation of heart rate is a complex process controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), hormonal influences, and intrinsic cardiac mechanisms. The ANS has two main components: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).
The SNS increases heart rate through the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, which act on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart. This action increases the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart's...
The SNS increases heart rate through the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, which act on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart. This action increases the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart's...
4.4K
01:19Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm
10.2K
The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase...
10.2K
01:18Functions of the Nervous System
8.5K
The nervous system is responsible for coordinating and regulating the body's functions. It functions through three main processes: sensory, integrative, and motor processes. Sensory function involves the detection and transmission of information about internal and external stimuli from sensory receptors to the CNS. The CNS processes this information through an integrative function, where it interprets and makes decisions based on the incoming sensory information. Finally, the motor function...
8.5K
01:13Nonconscious Mimicry
5.2K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
5.2K
01:21Self-Awareness and Its Effects
357
Self-awareness is a psychological state in which the individual becomes the focal point of their attention. This inward focus transforms the self into an object of contemplation and assessment, influencing how individuals perceive their actions and their alignment with personal and societal standards.Triggers and Contexts for Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness can be activated by external stimuli that make individuals visually or audibly aware of themselves, such as mirrors, cameras, or recordings.
357