Offline memory reprocessing: involvement of the brain's default network in spontaneous thought processes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Spontaneous thought processes (STPs), also called daydreaming or mind-wandering, occur ubiquitously in daily life. However, the functional significance of STPs remains largely unknown.

Methodology/principal finding

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we first identified an STPs-network whose activity was positively correlated with the subjects' tendency of having STPs during a task-free state. The STPs-network was then found to be strongly associated with the default network, which has previously been established as being active during the task-free state. Interestingly, we found that offline reprocessing of previously memorized information further increased the activity of the STPs-network regions, although during a state with less STPs. In additi

SUBMITTER: Wang K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2653727 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature