Electrophysiological Dynamics of Default Network Suppression

Abstract

Distributed brain networks compete with one another in the service of information processing. One dramatic example is antagonism between networks that support internally directed cognition, often collectively referred to as the default network, and networks that orient to external events and drive action. Here we combined within-individual precision functional neuroimaging and intracranial electrophysiology to investigate network competition at high spatiotemporal resolution. In six patients, robust antagonism between networks was established during a target detection task. Network-assigned electrophysiological recordings displayed concordant responses, including in single-neuron firing rates, and further revealed the temporal dynamics of network competition. Networks involved in salience detection and action planning showed early, transient responses that peaked near the participant response. Default network suppression occurred later, reflected in decreases in high-frequency broadband activity and in single-neuron firing rates in response to targets. Examining subcortical regions revealed rapid activity increases in the thalamus and posterior hippocampus aligned to the participant response. Critically, a late evolving, sustained suppression was observed throughout the hippocampus. These findings suggest that, across cortical and subcortical regions, network competition is temporally layered. Furthermore, the hippocampus can be dissociated along its long axis during competition. Such push-pull antagonism may be fundamental to advanced human cognition, and its disruption may underlie mental illness.

A Spiking Neural Network Model of Elementary Self-Consciousness via Endogenous Default Mode Network Dynamics
R. Lahoz-Beltra
arXiv29 Sep 2026PreprintCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textNeurosciencearXiv
A cascade of attentional and default mode network dynamics following the resolution of perceptual ambiguity
A. Ponzi, K. Miyahara, K. Suzuki
bioRxiv26 Sep 2026PreprintCC BYFull textNeurosciencebioRxiv
Input-space geometry shapes adaptation dynamics underlying repetition suppression in a neural network model of relatedness priming
D. Bartolini, T. P. Reber, T. Tchumatchenko +1
bioRxiv13 Sep 2026PreprintCC BYFull textNeurosciencebioRxiv
The vagus nerve drives cognitive function through the default mode network
M. Yamakawa, T. Togashi, H. Kawagoe +23
bioRxiv8 Oct 2026PreprintCC BYFull textNeurosciencebioRxiv
Social Anxiety Modulates Default Mode Network Dysfunction and Working Memory Impairment During Social Media-Like Cue Distraction.
Yuan Hu, Zijie Wei, Lei Xu +2
Depression and anxiety5 Nov 2026Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textNeuroscienceEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@misc{sun2026electrophysiological,
  title = {{Electrophysiological Dynamics of Default Network Suppression}},
  author = {W. Sun and M. R. Libowitz and R. L. Cowan and T. Tobel and J. Du and D. A. Feldman and T. S. Davis and J. B. King and S. Rahimpour and E. H. Smith and R. L. Buckner and B. Shofty},
  howpublished = {bioRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.64898/2026.11.06.764967},
  url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.06.764967v1},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - Electrophysiological Dynamics of Default Network Suppression
AU  - W. Sun
AU  - M. R. Libowitz
AU  - R. L. Cowan
AU  - T. Tobel
AU  - J. Du
AU  - D. A. Feldman
AU  - T. S. Davis
AU  - J. B. King
AU  - S. Rahimpour
AU  - E. H. Smith
AU  - R. L. Buckner
AU  - B. Shofty
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/06
PB  - bioRxiv
DO  - 10.64898/2026.11.06.764967
UR  - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.06.764967v1
AB  - Distributed brain networks compete with one another in the service of information processing. One dramatic example is antagonism between networks that support internally directed cognition, often collectively referred to as the default network, and networks that orient to external events and drive action. Here we combined within-individual precision functional neuroimaging and intracranial electrophysiology to investigate network competition at high spatiotemporal resolution. In six patients, robust antagonism between networks was established during a target detection task. Network-assigned electrophysiological recordings displayed concordant responses, including in single-neuron firing rates, and further revealed the temporal dynamics of network competition. Networks involved in salience detection and action planning showed early, transient responses that peaked near the participant response. Default network suppression occurred later, reflected in decreases in high-frequency broadband activity and in single-neuron firing rates in response to targets. Examining subcortical regions revealed rapid activity increases in the thalamus and posterior hippocampus aligned to the participant response. Critically, a late evolving, sustained suppression was observed throughout the hippocampus. These findings suggest that, across cortical and subcortical regions, network competition is temporally layered. Furthermore, the hippocampus can be dissociated along its long axis during competition. Such push-pull antagonism may be fundamental to advanced human cognition, and its disruption may underlie mental illness.
ER  -

Abstract

Related

Cite