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Default Mode Network Engagement

Meaning

Default Mode Network Engagement describes the functional activation of a specific, interconnected set of brain regions—including the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and inferior parietal lobule—that becomes highly active when an individual is not focused on the external world. This network is primarily associated with internally directed cognition, such as self-referential thought, future planning, and memory retrieval. While essential for introspection, excessive or dysregulated engagement can be a marker of rumination, anxiety, and reduced capacity for external task focus.