Neural Correlates of Sustained Attention During Disengagement From Repetitive Thought

Repetitive thought (RT) is a major transdiagnostic symptom and mechanism of internalizing psychopathology. Prior work implicates the default mode network (DMN) in maintaining RT. However, few studies have investigated the neural correlates of successful RT regulation. Participants were 57 community-residing adults oversampled for severe RT (79% with ≥ 1 DSM-5 disorders). During fMRI, participants completed blocks of cued idiographic RT followed by a validated sustained attention task. Thought probes assessed momentary RT regulatory success. Study design, hypotheses, and analyses were preregistered (https://osf.io/qy4df). More difficulty disengaging from RT corresponded to worse task performance (slower responding with no increase in accuracy); reduced activity in salience, ventral, and dorsal attention networks; and reduced connectivity between DMN and dorsal attention network; but not reduced activity or connectivity of DMN. Findings suggest that successful RT regulation may rely on the effective recruitment of attentional resources, but that downregulation of DMN may not be necessary.