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A Precuneal Causal Loop Mediates External and Internal Information Integration in the Human Brain
Dian Lyu1,2, Ioannis Pappas1,3, David K Menon1,4
1University Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0SP, United Kingdom.
Summary
The precuneus (PCu), a key part of the default-mode network (DMN), helps interpret external stimuli using internal representations. Its dorsal and ventral parts flexibly connect with internal and external networks, influencing task performance and conscious processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- The default-mode network (DMN) is primarily linked to internally oriented cognition.
- The precuneus (PCu), a posterior DMN hub, is hypothesized to play a role in decoding external information.
- Mechanistic explanations for the PCu's role in integrating internal and external information are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional role of the precuneus (PCu) within the default-mode network (DMN).
- To explore how the PCu's subdivisions interact with internally oriented networks (IoN) and externally oriented networks (EoN).
- To determine if these interactions are modulated by cognitive demand and correlate with task performance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 100 participants during attention-demanding tasks.
- Examination of functional connectivity profiles of dorsal PCu (dPCu) and ventral PCu (vPCu) subdivisions at rest and during tasks.
- Application of dynamic causal modeling (DCM) to assess effective connectivity (EC) between PCu subdivisions.
Main Results:
- The PCu exhibits functional division into dorsal and ventral subdivisions (dPCu, vPCu).
- Both vPCu and dPCu show differential connectivity with IoN and EoN, modulated by cognitive demand.
- Task-related connectivity strength and direction between vPCu and dPCu correlate with performance and are influenced by task difficulty.
Conclusions:
- The posterior medial DMN, specifically the PCu, plays a crucial role in integrating internal representations with external stimuli.
- Flexible modulation of connectivity between PCu subdivisions and IoN/EoN supports adaptive cognitive processing.
- Recurrent effective connectivity within the PCu may facilitate conscious interpretation of the environment by balancing internal and external information processing.
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