The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a neurological system composed of brain regions that are thought to be highly active during restful states, such as daydreaming and mind-wandering. This self-referential network of brain regions is activated when an individual is not actively engaging in external tasks, is off-task, or when task difficulty is low. Importantly, the regions of the DMN are found to de-activate when focused attention is applied towards external tasks. DMN regions are typically associated with higher-order cognitive and affective processes, such as self-reflection, memory retrieval, theory of mind, and empathy.

See also: flow state, peak experience, radical hope, altered state