A default mode of brain function
- PMID: 11209064
- PMCID: PMC14647
- DOI: 10.1073/pnas.98.2.676
A default mode of brain function
Abstract
A baseline or control state is fundamental to the understanding of most complex systems. Defining a baseline state in the human brain, arguably our most complex system, poses a particular challenge. Many suspect that left unconstrained, its activity will vary unpredictably. Despite this prediction we identify a baseline state of the normal adult human brain in terms of the brain oxygen extraction fraction or OEF. The OEF is defined as the ratio of oxygen used by the brain to oxygen delivered by flowing blood and is remarkably uniform in the awake but resting state (e.g., lying quietly with eyes closed). Local deviations in the OEF represent the physiological basis of signals of changes in neuronal activity obtained with functional MRI during a wide variety of human behaviors. We used quantitative metabolic and circulatory measurements from positron-emission tomography to obtain the OEF regionally throughout the brain. Areas of activation were conspicuous by their absence. All significant deviations from the mean hemisphere OEF were increases, signifying deactivations, and resided almost exclusively in the visual system. Defining the baseline state of an area in this manner attaches meaning to a group of areas that consistently exhibit decreases from this baseline, during a wide variety of goal-directed behaviors monitored with positron-emission tomography and functional MRI. These decreases suggest the existence of an organized, baseline default mode of brain function that is suspended during specific goal-directed behaviors.
Figures
![Figure 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/14647/bin/pq0115125001.gif)
![Figure 2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/14647/bin/pq0115125002.gif)
![Figure 3](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/14647/bin/pq0115125003.gif)
![Figure 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/14647/bin/pq0115125004.gif)
![Figure 5](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/14647/bin/pq0115125005.gif)
Comment in
-
Understanding the Brain, By Default.Trends Neurosci. 2018 May;41(5):244-247. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.03.004. Trends Neurosci. 2018. PMID: 29703375
Similar articles
-
Oxygen extraction fraction measurement using quantitative susceptibility mapping: Comparison with positron emission tomography.J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2016 Aug;36(8):1424-33. doi: 10.1177/0271678X15606713. Epub 2015 Oct 13. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2016. PMID: 26661168 Free PMC article.
-
Regional Reproducibility of BOLD Calibration Parameter M, OEF and Resting-State CMRO2 Measurements with QUO2 MRI.PLoS One. 2016 Sep 20;11(9):e0163071. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163071. eCollection 2016. PLoS One. 2016. PMID: 27649493 Free PMC article.
-
Searching for a baseline: functional imaging and the resting human brain.Nat Rev Neurosci. 2001 Oct;2(10):685-94. doi: 10.1038/35094500. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2001. PMID: 11584306 Review.
-
Default mode of brain activity demonstrated by positron emission tomography imaging in awake monkeys: higher rest-related than working memory-related activity in medial cortical areas.J Neurosci. 2009 Nov 18;29(46):14463-71. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1786-09.2009. J Neurosci. 2009. PMID: 19923280 Free PMC article.
-
Does the brain have a baseline? Why we should be resisting a rest.Neuroimage. 2007 Oct 1;37(4):1073-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.06.019. Epub 2007 Jul 3. Neuroimage. 2007. PMID: 17681817 Review.
Cited by
-
Resting-State Functional Connectivity Change in Frontoparietal and Default Mode Networks After Acute Exercise in Youth.Brain Plast. 2024 May 14;9(1-2):5-20. doi: 10.3233/BPL-240003. eCollection 2024. Brain Plast. 2024. PMID: 39081665 Free PMC article.
-
Heightened emotion processing as a compensatory mechanism in persons with Alzheimer's disease: Psychological insights from the tri-network model.Front Dement. 2022 Sep 30;1:983331. doi: 10.3389/frdem.2022.983331. eCollection 2022. Front Dement. 2022. PMID: 39081476 Free PMC article. Review.
-
A mediation approach in resting-state connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate in mild cognitive impairment.Aging Clin Exp Res. 2024 Jul 30;36(1):154. doi: 10.1007/s40520-024-02805-8. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2024. PMID: 39078432 Free PMC article.
-
Brainstorming: Interbrain coupling in groups forms the basis of group creativity.Commun Biol. 2024 Jul 28;7(1):911. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06614-7. Commun Biol. 2024. PMID: 39069529 Free PMC article.
-
The Complex Role Played by the Default Mode Network during Sexual Stimulation: A Cluster-Based fMRI Meta-Analysis.Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Jul 5;14(7):570. doi: 10.3390/bs14070570. Behav Sci (Basel). 2024. PMID: 39062393 Free PMC article. Review.
References
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical