title: Definition and characterization of an extended social-affective default network.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests considerable overlap between the default mode network (DMN) and regions involved in social, affective and introspective processes. We considered these overlapping regions as the social-affective part of the DMN. In this study, we established a robust mapping of the underlying brain network formed by these regions and those strongly connected to them (the extended social-affective default network). We first seeded meta-analytic connectivity modeling and resting-state analyses in the meta-analytically defined DMN regions that showed statistical overlap with regions associated with social and affective processing. Consensus connectivity of each seed was subsequently delineated by a conjunction across both connectivity analyses. We then functionally characterized the ensuing regions and performed several cluster analyses. Among the identified regions, the amygdala/hippocampus formed a cluster associated with emotional processes and memory functions. The ventral striatum, anterior cingulum, subgenual cingulum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex formed a heterogeneous subgroup associated with motivation, reward and cognitive modulation of affect. Posterior cingulum/precuneus and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex were associated with mentalizing, self-reference and autobiographic information. The cluster formed by the temporo-parietal junction and anterior middle temporal sulcus/gyrus was associated with language and social cognition. Taken together, the current work highlights a robustly interconnected network that may be central to introspective, socio-affective, that is, self- and other-related mental processes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, HHU Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amft
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bzdok
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Leonhard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schilbach
authors.forename: Simon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Eickhoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003071:Cognition; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009042:Motivation; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind; D055815:Young Adult