Episodic memory and the role of the brain’s default-mode network

This thesis provides a number of new insights into episodic memory and the role of the default-mode network. First, it provides the first direct evidence for the contrasting role of DMN during encoding and retrieval. Secondly, the experimental findings eliminate several possible explanations for the role of the DMN, including a simple reallocation account and the orienting of attention account. Moreover, the present work sheds light on the contribution of different processes - including respiratory - to the fMRI signal. Finally, the work clarifies the flexible nature of the DMN, for example, the distinct role of the hippocampus during encoding. Overall, the work within this thesis clearly indicates that the individual DMN regions provide distinct contributions to learning and remembering.