default mode network
dih-FAWLT MOHD NET-wurk
dɪˈfɔːlt moʊd ˈnɛtwɜːrkListen
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Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
a large-scale brain network active during rest, mind-wandering, self-referential thought, and envisioning the future; includes the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and angular gyrus; becomes deactivated during externally directed tasks; disrupted in depression, schizophrenia, and autism; implicated in creativity and narrative self-construction
Examples
- The default mode network activates when you daydream or reflect on your past.
- Brain scans show the default mode network quiets when people focus on a demanding task.
Synonyms: DMN, resting state network
Pronunciation tips
The network was 'discovered' in the early 2000s when neuroscientists noticed consistent brain activity during rest conditions. 'Default' refers to what the brain does by default when not engaged outwardly.
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