The serendipitous discovery of the brain's default network

RL Buckner - Neuroimage, 2012 - Elsevier
Neuroimage, 2012Elsevier
One of the most unexpected findings by functional neuroimaging has been the discovery of
the brain's default network—a set of brain regions that is spontaneously active during
passive moments. The default network's discovery was a fortunate accident that occurred
due to the inclusion of rest control conditions in early PET and functional MRI studies. At first,
the network was ignored. Later, its presence was shunned as evidence of an experimental
confound. Finally, it emerged as a mainstream target of focused study. Here, I describe a …
One of the most unexpected findings by functional neuroimaging has been the discovery of the brain's default network — a set of brain regions that is spontaneously active during passive moments. The default network's discovery was a fortunate accident that occurred due to the inclusion of rest control conditions in early PET and functional MRI studies. At first, the network was ignored. Later, its presence was shunned as evidence of an experimental confound. Finally, it emerged as a mainstream target of focused study. Here, I describe a personal perspective of the default network's serendipitous discovery.
Elsevier