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The foundations of self-perception: How does the default mode network shape your identity?
In the field of neuroscience, the default mode network (DMN) is gaining increasing attention. This brain network, which is closely related to our self-cognition, has shown surprising functions and influences. The default mode network is primarily active when we are relaxing, daydreaming, or zoned out, a time when the brain is not focused on the external world but is instead deeply self-reflecting, remembering the past, or planning for the future.
The default mode network is considered the mind's "internal narrative," helping us construct our sense of self and reflecting our social relationships and emotional states.
The basic components of the default mode network include the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, medial parietal cortex and angular gyrus. These areas become particularly active when interacting with others, recalling personal experiences, or planning future tasks. As scientific research deepens, substantial activity of the default mode network has also become very obvious in certain internal goal-oriented tasks, such as social memory and autobiographical tasks, which challenges the past definition of the "task-negative network".
The discovery began in 1929, when Hans Berger used electroencephalography to show that the brain remains active even when it is at rest. However, this view was ignored at the time. As technology has improved, particularly with positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers have come to understand that the brain is not only active during external tasks or when we focus our attention.
The heightened activity of the default mode network in the quiet state suggests that the brain's structure may be naturally formed to support internal cognitive processes.
Recent studies have also shown that as age increases, the connectivity of the default mode network becomes more pronounced in children aged 9 to 12 years old. This suggests that this network is constantly changing during development. Meanwhile, monkeys' brains also display a similar default mode network, demonstrating the importance of pragmatism and its universality across species.
Functionally, the default mode network is believed to be closely related to various psychological processes such as self-awareness, social interaction, and memory. This includes things like the formation of autobiographical memories and the understanding of other people's thoughts. This makes the default mode network an important component of understanding individual identity and is embedded in our emotional experiences and self-evaluations, forming a complex internal reflection.
This network has a profound impact on an individual's self-perception and understanding of others' emotions, outlining the interactive relationship between the self and society.
When it comes to clinical significance, abnormalities in the default mode network have been associated with a variety of mental health problems, including Alzheimer's disease, autism, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder. These abnormalities can lead to impairment of social function, deviations in self-perception, and deeper psychological confusion. In people with Alzheimer's disease in particular, energy usage in this network shows a significant decrease, reflecting the brain's difficulty in forming and retrieving memories.
In addition, drugs, meditation, exercise, etc. can affect the activity of the default mode network. Different intervention measures can effectively adjust the operation of the network and provide potential treatment strategies. For example, meditation and acupuncture have been found to reduce activation of the default mode network, helping to alleviate emotional states of anxiety and depression.
Recognizing the function of the default mode network and its impact on self-awareness has led to deeper thinking: With the advancement of technology and medical intervention, will the emergence and changes in our understanding of our own identity change accordingly?
