Linking visual-frontoparietal network neural dynamics to spontaneous cognitive processing

Previous studies in neuroscience have predominantly focused on the role of the default mode network (DMN) in spontaneous thought, with the contributions of other brain regions remaining largely unexplored. In this study, we hypothesized that the visual-frontoparietal network (VFPN) would exhibit distinct macroscopic patterns associated with spontaneous cognitive processing. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed four functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) datasets. Our results revealed that self-reported cognitive states during rest were strongly correlated with specific macroscopic patterns in the VFPN. These patterns were also observed during movie viewing/listening and had previously been identified in multistable perception tasks. Further analysis showed that the microscopic activation patterns in the visual areas were closely linked to self-reported cognitive states. Additionally, we found that memory replay in the visual areas was more pronounced when the frontoparietal network was active, compared to when it was inactive. Finally, fluctuations in the VFPN and their coupling with the hippocampus were significant predictors of offline memory enhancement. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate consistent patterns in the visual and frontoparietal brain regions during resting states that are closely associated with cognitive activity, providing strong evidence for the significant roles of regions beyond the DMN in spontaneous thought.