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Abstract
Rumination is strongly and consistently correlated with depression. Although multiple
studies have explored the neural correlates of rumination, findings have been inconsistent
and the mechanisms underlying rumination remain elusive. Functional brain imaging
studies have identified areas in the default mode network (DMN) that appear to be
critically involved in ruminative processes. However, a meta-analysis to synthesize
the findings of brain regions underlying rumination is currently lacking. Here, we
conducted a meta-analysis consisting of experimental tasks that investigate rumination
by using Signed Differential Mapping of 14 fMRI studies comprising 286 healthy participants.
Furthermore, rather than treat the DMN as a unitary network, we examined the contribution
of three DMN subsystems to rumination. Results confirm the suspected association between
rumination and DMN activation, specifically implicating the DMN core regions and the
dorsal medial prefrontal cortex subsystem. Based on these findings, we suggest a hypothesis
of how DMN regions support rumination and present the implications of this model for
treating major depressive disorder characterized by rumination.