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Individual variation in intentionality in the mind-wandering state is reflected in the integration of the default-mode, fronto-parietal, and limbic networks.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Golchert, J; Smallwood, J; Jefferies, E; Seli, P; Huntenburg, JM; Liem, F; Lauckner, ME; Oligschläger, S; Bernhardt, BC; Villringer, A; Margulies, DS
Published in: NeuroImage
February 2017

Mind-wandering has a controversial relationship with cognitive control. Existing psychological evidence supports the hypothesis that episodes of mind-wandering reflect a failure to constrain thinking to task-relevant material, as well the apparently alternative view that control can facilitate the expression of self-generated mental content. We assessed whether this apparent contradiction arises because of a failure to consider differences in the types of thoughts that occur during mind-wandering, and in particular, the associated level of intentionality. Using multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis, we examined the cortical organisation that underlies inter-individual differences in descriptions of the spontaneous or deliberate nature of mind-wandering. Cortical thickness, as well as functional connectivity analyses, implicated regions relevant to cognitive control and regions of the default-mode network for individuals who reported high rates of deliberate mind-wandering. In contrast, higher reports of spontaneous mind-wandering were associated with cortical thinning in parietal and posterior temporal regions in the left hemisphere (which are important in the control of cognition and attention) as well as heightened connectivity between the intraparietal sulcus and a region that spanned limbic and default-mode regions in the ventral inferior frontal gyrus. Finally, we observed a dissociation in the thickness of the retrosplenial cortex/lingual gyrus, with higher reports of spontaneous mind-wandering being associated with thickening in the left hemisphere, and higher repots of deliberate mind-wandering with thinning in the right hemisphere. These results suggest that the intentionality of the mind-wandering state depends on integration between the control and default-mode networks, with more deliberation being associated with greater integration between these systems. We conclude that one reason why mind-wandering has a controversial relationship with control is because it depends on whether the thoughts emerge in a deliberate or spontaneous fashion.

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Published In

NeuroImage

DOI

EISSN

1095-9572

ISSN

1053-8119

Publication Date

February 2017

Volume

146

Start / End Page

226 / 235

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Thinking
  • Temporal Lobe
  • Parietal Lobe
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neural Pathways
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Limbic Lobe
  • Intention
 

Citation

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Chicago
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MLA
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Golchert, J., Smallwood, J., Jefferies, E., Seli, P., Huntenburg, J. M., Liem, F., … Margulies, D. S. (2017). Individual variation in intentionality in the mind-wandering state is reflected in the integration of the default-mode, fronto-parietal, and limbic networks. NeuroImage, 146, 226–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.11.025
Golchert, Johannes, Jonathan Smallwood, Elizabeth Jefferies, Paul Seli, Julia M. Huntenburg, Franziskus Liem, Mark E. Lauckner, et al. “Individual variation in intentionality in the mind-wandering state is reflected in the integration of the default-mode, fronto-parietal, and limbic networks.NeuroImage 146 (February 2017): 226–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.11.025.
Golchert J, Smallwood J, Jefferies E, Seli P, Huntenburg JM, Liem F, et al. Individual variation in intentionality in the mind-wandering state is reflected in the integration of the default-mode, fronto-parietal, and limbic networks. NeuroImage. 2017 Feb;146:226–35.
Golchert, Johannes, et al. “Individual variation in intentionality in the mind-wandering state is reflected in the integration of the default-mode, fronto-parietal, and limbic networks.NeuroImage, vol. 146, Feb. 2017, pp. 226–35. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.11.025.
Golchert J, Smallwood J, Jefferies E, Seli P, Huntenburg JM, Liem F, Lauckner ME, Oligschläger S, Bernhardt BC, Villringer A, Margulies DS. Individual variation in intentionality in the mind-wandering state is reflected in the integration of the default-mode, fronto-parietal, and limbic networks. NeuroImage. 2017 Feb;146:226–235.
Journal cover image

Published In

NeuroImage

DOI

EISSN

1095-9572

ISSN

1053-8119

Publication Date

February 2017

Volume

146

Start / End Page

226 / 235

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Thinking
  • Temporal Lobe
  • Parietal Lobe
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neural Pathways
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Limbic Lobe
  • Intention