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The default mode network: where the idiosyncratic self meets the shared social world
Yaara Yeshurun1,2, Mai Nguyen3,4,5,6, Uri Hasson7,8,9,10
1School of Psychological Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. yaaray@tauex.tau.ac.il.
Nature Reviews. Neuroscience
|January 23, 2021
Summary
The default mode network (DMN) actively integrates external information with personal memories to create context-dependent situation models. This dynamic sense-making supports shared meaning, communication, and community building.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Social Psychology
Background:
- The default mode network (DMN) is traditionally viewed as an intrinsic system for internal thought processes like mind-wandering.
- Its role in processing external, real-time information has been less emphasized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that the DMN functions as a dynamic sense-making network.
- To explore how the DMN integrates extrinsic and intrinsic information for context-dependent modeling.
- To highlight the DMN's role in social cognition and community formation.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies utilizing naturalistic stimuli (e.g., stories, movies).
- Analysis of neural responses within the DMN during unfolding events.
- Examination of the influence of external information and individual memory.
Main Results:
- DMN neural activity is modulated by both accumulating external information and individual past experiences.
- The integration occurs over extended timescales, forming context-dependent situation models.
- This process facilitates the negotiation of shared neural codes.
Conclusions:
- The DMN is an active sense-making network, not just an intrinsic system.
- Integration of extrinsic and intrinsic information is crucial for understanding unfolding events.
- This neural integration underpins shared meaning, communication, and social cohesion.
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