We tested three straightforward predictions based on previous fMRI studies of resting state coherence, encoding, and retrieval. First, on the basis of evidence from separate studies of encoding [15], [16], [17], [18] and retrieval [21], [22], [23] as well as our previous findings [19], [25], we predicted that DMN activity will be decreased during external encoding (Ext-Enc) but increased during external retrieval (Ext-Ret), that is the encoding/retrieval flip pattern. Second, as shown in Table 1, we tested the prediction of the internal orienting hypothesis that successful encoding should be associated with reduced DMN activity only when the information to be encoded is external, and hence disrupted by an internal orientation, but not when this information is internally-generated. The internal-external manipulation should not affect DMN involvement during retrieval because retrieval is always internally-oriented. Finally, we tested the prediction of the hippocampal coupling account that DMN activity should be associated with successful memory operations when it is coupled with the HF, which should occur during Int-Ret and Ext-Ret, but not when it is uncoupled with the HF, which should occur during both Int-Enc and Ext-Enc (Table 1).
