Contributions of default mode network to subjective valuation and maladaptive decision making

The default mode network (DMN) has been central to cognitive neuroscience for two decades, yet its role in decision-making remains incompletely understood. This review synthesizes recent evidence linking the DMN directly to subjective valuation and value-based decisions. Anatomically and functionally, core DMN regions—including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex—overlap extensively with the brain’s valuation system, suggesting shared computational roles. Recent studies further identify distinct posterior cingulate cortex subregions involved in simulation, memory retrieval, and evaluation. Additionally, the DMN dynamically interacts with reward-related and control networks—such as the ventral striatum and hippocampus—during value-guided social decisions. These interactions vary with motivational context and individual differences, revealing how subjective value emerges across diverse situations. Disruptions in these dynamics occur in aging and psychiatric conditions, linking DMN dysfunction to maladaptive decision-making. Together, these findings position the DMN as an integrative hub critical for internal valuation and goal-directed behavior.