What is Default mode interference?
Default mode interference occurs when the default mode network (active during mind-wandering and self-referential thought) intrudes on task-focused processing, disrupting concentration and performance.
How it works
When a person is trying to focus on an external task but their mind wanders to personal concerns, rumination, or future planning, the default mode network is interfering with the task-positive network. This interference is associated with reduced task performance, increased errors, and the subjective experience of distraction. Individuals with depression show elevated default mode activity that is resistant to suppression, leading to persistent rumination even when trying to focus on external tasks.
Applied example
A student reading a textbook who suddenly realizes they have read two pages without absorbing anything has experienced default mode interference: their brain switched from external processing (reading) to internal processing (mind-wandering) without conscious awareness.
Why it matters
Default mode interference explains why maintaining focus is effortful: it requires ongoing suppression of the brain’s natural tendency to turn attention inward, a process that consumes cognitive resources.
