Specific default mode subnetworks support mentalizing as revealed through opposing network recruitment by social and semantic FMRI tasks

Abstract

The ability to attribute mental states to others, or "mentalizing," is posited to involve specific subnetworks within the overall default mode network (DMN), but this question needs clarification. To determine which default mode (DM) subnetworks are engaged by mentalizing processes, we assessed task-related recruitment of DM subnetworks. Spatial independent component analysis (sICA) applied to fMRI data using relatively high-order model (75 components). Healthy participants (n = 53, ages 17-60) performed two fMRI tasks: an interactive game involving mentalizing (Domino), a semantic memory task (SORT), and a resting state fMRI scan. sICA of the two tasks split the DMN into 10 subnetworks located in three core regions: medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC; five subnetworks), posterior cingulate/precuneus (PCC/PrC; three subnetworks), and bilateral temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Mentalizing events increased recruitment in five of 10 DM subnetworks, located in all three core DMN regions. In addition, three of these five DM subnetworks, one dmPFC subnetwork, one PCC/PrC subnetwork, and the right TPJ subnetwork, showed reduced recruitment by semantic memory task events. The opposing modulation by the two tasks suggests that these three DM subnetworks are specifically engaged in mentalizing. Our findings, therefore, suggest the unique involvement of mentalizing processes in only three of 10 DM subnetworks, and support the importance of the dmPFC, PCC/PrC, and right TPJ in mentalizing as described in prior studies.

The Association among Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity, Mentalization, and Psychopathology in a Nonclinical Sample: An eLORETA Study

“…Future studies are also needed to explore the different defaul mode subnetworks [20] and their potential role in the activation of different components of mentalization [2,70] in both psychiatric and healthy subjects using simultaneous recording and analysis of EEG and fMRI data.…”

“…The default mode network (DMN) is a set of different subnetworks associated with mentalization [18][19][20], and its dysfunctions are linked with increased levels of psychopathology [21,22]. Although this network is most frequently detected during resting state (RS) condition [23], recent studies demonstrated that it is also active during tasks that involve social cognition, theory of mind, goaldirected mental simulations, and declarative (episodic and semantic) memory [20].…”

“…Although this network is most frequently detected during resting state (RS) condition [23], recent studies demonstrated that it is also active during tasks that involve social cognition, theory of mind, goaldirected mental simulations, and declarative (episodic and semantic) memory [20]. DMN reflects the neural activity of different brain areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampus, medial frontal lobes, inferior parietal lobes, and temporal lobes [24,25].…”

“…DMN reflects the neural activity of different brain areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampus, medial frontal lobes, inferior parietal lobes, and temporal lobes [24,25]. The DMN is thought to be involved in self-consciousness, self-processing and introspection functions, including emotional awareness, processing, and mentalizing in social interactions [20,26]. Although functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is commonly used to investigate the functional connectivity of DMN, recent studies have shown that electroencephalography (EEG) is also suitable for investigating the functional properties of this network [23,25].…”

Mentalizing and Information Propagation through Social Network: Evidence from a Resting-State-fMRI Study

“…The volume of the brain regions within this system is correlated to the online social networking services (SNS) size (Kanai et al, 2011). Increased activity at these regions is observed when participants are engaged in mentalizing or theory of mind (TOM) task (Hyatt et al, 2015). This activity can further predict individual’s behavioral performance in such task (Kanske et al, 2015).…”