Cognitive neuroscience has witnessed a surge of interest in investigating the neural correlates of the mind when it drifts away from an ongoing task and the external environment. To that end, functional neuroimaging research has consistently implicated the default mode network (DMN) and frontoparietal control network (FPCN) in mind-wandering. Yet, it remains unknown which subregions within these networks are necessary and how they facilitate mind-wandering. In this review, we synthesize evidence from lesion, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) studies demonstrating the causal relevance of brain regions, and providing insights into the neuronal mechanism underlying mind-wandering. We propose that the integration of complementary approaches is the optimal strategy to establish a comprehensive understanding of the neural basis of mind-wandering.

认知神经科学见证了人们对研究当大脑偏离正在进行的任务和外部环境时的神经关联的兴趣激增。为此，功能神经影像学研究一致认为默认模式网络（DMN）和额顶控制网络（FPCN）与走神有关。然而，我们仍然不知道这些网络中的哪些子区域是必要的，以及它们如何促进走神。在这篇综述中，我们综合了来自病变、经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）和颅内脑电图（iEEG）研究的证据，证明了大脑区域的因果相关性，并提供了对走神背后的神经元机制的见解。我们认为，互补方法的整合是全面理解走神神经基础的最佳策略。