The default mode network and social understanding of others: what do brain connectivity studies tell us
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience January 1, 2014 Wanqing Li, Xiaoqin Mai, Chao Liu 469 citations
The default mode network (DMN) is involved in understanding others across emotion perception, empathy, theory of mind, and morality. The medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) plays a key role, with its subregions contributing differently: the ventral MPFC in the medial temporal lobe subsystem connects with emotion regions for emotional engagement; the anterior MPFC in cortical midline structures helps distinguish self from others; and the dorsal MPFC subsystem connects with the temporo-parietal junction for understanding others' mental states. As social behaviors become more complex, frontal regions involved are located higher, reflecting a shift from automatic to cognitive processing. Posterior cingulate cortex connectivity also changes. The DMN is indispensable for social understanding.