20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis

The default mode network (DMN) integrates memory, language, and semantic representations to create a coherent internal narrative that reflects individual experiences. This narrative is central to constructing a sense of self, shapes self-perception and social interaction, may originate in childhood self-directed speech, and forms a vital component of human consciousness. The review traces the DMN's discovery, its roles in self-reference, social cognition, episodic and autobiographical memory, language, semantic memory, and mind wandering, and proposes new perspectives on its function in human cognition.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The discovery of the default mode network (DMN) has revolutionized our understanding of the workings of the human brain. Here, I review developments that led to the discovery of the DMN, offer a personal reflection, and consider how our ideas of DMN function have evolved over the past two decades. I summarize literature examining the role of the DMN in self-reference, social cognition, episodic and autobiographical memory, language and semantic memory, and mind wandering. I identify unifying themes and propose new perspectives on the DMN's role in human cognition. I argue that the DMN integrates and broadcasts memory, language, and semantic representations to create a coherent "internal narrative" reflecting our individual experiences. This narrative is central to the construction of a sense of self, shapes how we perceive ourselves and interact with others, may have ontogenetic origins in self-directed speech during childhood, and forms a vital component of human consciousness.