Direct electrophysiological measurement of human default network areas

Neuroimaging-based investigations in humans have established the existence of brain regions that are selectively metabolically active while resting. We report a population-scale neurophysiological measurement of activity in regions of this default network,'' by recording high-frequency power (76-200 Hz) electrical potentials directly from these regions in three human subjects. A selective increase observed during only resting, when compared with activity, firmly establishes a neuronal origin for default network phenomena.