Hierarchical systems in the default mode network when reasoning about self and other mental states.
Isaac R Christian, Samuel A Nastase
Social cognitive and affective neuroscience June 16, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsag047 via PubMed
Summary
The study identifies distinct brain regions involved in reasoning about mental states, both for oneself and others. It shows that ventral medial prefrontal regions are specifically activated when inferring one's own mental states, while dorsal regions are engaged for both self and others. Additionally, certain areas like the posterior cingulate cortex differentiate between the targets of inference. Overall, a functional hierarchy exists where some brain areas support specific reasoning about agents and others facilitate more general reasoning.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Brain regions exhibit a functional hierarchy in mental state reasoning, with some areas supporting agent-specific reasoning and others supporting agent-general reasoning. |
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Abstract
Humans spend considerable time contemplating the minds of others. But this ability is not limited to external agents-we also turn the lens for reading minds inward, reflecting on our own thoughts, emotions, and sense of self. Some processes involved in reasoning about minds may rely on shared mechanisms, while others may be specific to the agent under consideration. We developed a paradigm where participants performed either a mental state inference task or a control task targeting either another person presented onscreen or their own mind. Using fMRI and multi-voxel pattern analysis, we replicate a well-established self-other gradient along the medial prefrontal wall: ventral regions encoded mental state inference patterns for self, but not other, whereas more dorsal regions encoded mental state inference for both self and other, compared to control conditions. Posterior cingulate cortex, on the other hand, differentiated the target of mental state inference. Using a cross-classification analysis, we also found patterns in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and right temporoparietal junction were sensitive to mental state reasoning, regardless of the target agent. Our findings reveal a functional hierarchy for mental state reasoning where certain areas support agent-specific reasoning and others support more abstract, agent-general reasoning.