regions partly underlie suboptimal performance (Prado and Weissman, 2011), such that decreased negative coupling between these networks predicts increased variability in trial-to-trial response times across individuals (Kelly et al., 2008). As such, altered network dynamics and/or a compromised ability to suppress DMN activity have been proposed as a neurobiological explanation for attentional-control maladjustments in conditions such as ADHD (Sonuga-Barke and Castellanos, 2007, Fassbender et al., 2009), autism spectrum disorders (Uddin and Menon 2009, Broyd et al., 2009), chronic pain (Baliki et al., 2008; Tagliazucchi et al., 2010), depression (Sheline et al., 2010), schizophrenia (Williamson, 2007), anxiety, and dementia (Menon 2011). Thus, the waning of concentration during monotonous task performance may arise from persistent, re-emergent, and/or spontaneously occurring DMN activity supporting task-irrelevant, internally oriented information processing.
