The Brain's Default Mode Network
Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015 Marcus E. Raichle 4,082 citations
The brain's default mode network consists of discrete, bilateral, and symmetrical cortical areas found in humans, nonhuman primates, cats, and rodents. It was discovered unexpectedly through PET imaging when novel, attention-demanding tasks were compared with quiet rest. This network consistently decreases its activity during such tasks relative to relaxed states. Its discovery renewed interest in the brain's ongoing or intrinsic activity, and resting-state studies now play a major role in understanding the human brain in health and disease, with the default mode network central to this work.