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Human cognition is not limited to the available environmental input but can consider realities that are different to the here and now. We describe the cognitive states and neural processes linked to the refinement of descriptions of personal goals. When personal goals became concrete, participants reported greater thoughts about the self and the future during mind-wandering. This pattern was not observed for descriptions of TV programmes. Connectivity analysis of participants who underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed neural traits associated with this pattern. Strong hippocampal connectivity with ventromedial pre-frontal cortex was common to better-specified descriptions of goals and TV programmes, while connectivity between hippocampus and the pre-supplementary motor area was associated with individuals whose goals were initially abstract but became more concrete over the course of the experiment. We conclude that self-generated cognition that arises during the mind-wandering state can allow goals to be refined, and this depends on neural systems anchored in the hippocampus.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s00221-016-4729-y

Type

Journal article

Journal

Exp Brain Res

Publication Date

09/2018

Volume

236

Pages

2469 - 2481

Keywords

Future thought, Goals, Hippocampus, Mind-wandering, Adult, Attention, Connectome, Decision Making, Female, Goals, Hippocampus, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Motor Cortex, Nerve Net, Prefrontal Cortex, Thinking, Young Adult