Default Mode Network

The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a network of brain regions that is primarily active when a person is not focused on the outside world and the brain is at rest, such as during daydreaming, mind-wandering, and retrieving memories. This network includes areas like the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and the angular gyrus.

Andrew Huberman discusses how the DMN is involved in processes such as thinking about oneself, remembering the past, and planning for the future. It is less active when you are engaged in a specific task that requires attention to the external environment 1.

Additionally, the DMN is tied to spontaneous thoughts and imagination. It becomes more engaged when you close your eyes and shift your focus inward, moving away from the sensory stimuli of the outside world. This network plays a crucial role in the flow of thoughts about self-referential or introspective content 2.

Further discussing its significance in ADHD, the DMN remains active even during tasks that typically require focused attention, contributing to the distractibility characteristic of ADHD. Medications used in the treatment of ADHD can modulate this network's activity and improve focus 3.

This network is critical as it supports mental processes when you are not directly interacting with the environment, making it essential for self-awareness, moral reasoning, and reflecting on one’s emotional state 1.