ABSTRACT
Human beings are a social species, and particular brain regions aid us in being so. Recently, within the realm of brain imaging, there has been a trend to examine the brain as a system of networks in order to better understand how different brain areas work together to processes information. One of these networks, the default network, appears to play both a critical role in facilitating social processing and supporting well-being. The following chapter discusses the components of the default network and notes how these regions aid in supporting feelings of self-positivity and assist in making sense of the world around us. Improper function within this network is also detailed as we note how dysfunction can contribute to various types of psychopathology.
