Functional connectivity correlates of psychological flexibility: A resting-state fMRI study of the default mode and dorsal attention networks

Abstract

Aim

Psychological flexibility (PF), which is the ability to adapt to situational demands while maintaining alignment with personal values, is associated with mental health. The neural basis of PF is poorly understood. This study investigated the resting-state functional connectivity correlates of PF in healthy adults, with a focus on the interplay between the Default Mode Network (DMN) and the Dorsal Attention Network (DAN).

Methods

Forty-two participants (aged 19–65) underwent resting-state fMRI scans. PF was quantified using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II). Seed-to-voxel and region-of-interest analyses explored resting-state functional connectivity, particularly the anticorrelation between the DMN and DAN, among those scoring high and low on the AAQ-II, split by its median score.

Results

Twenty-three statistically significant functional connectivity pairs were identified. Fifteen functional connectivity pairs were distinct from the measures of depressive and anxiety symptoms, suggesting characteristic connectivity associated with PF. For one pair, a greater PF demonstrated a stronger anticorrelation between the DMN and DAN.

Conclusion

This study advances our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying psychological flexibility and highlights the importance of DMN-DAN dynamics. Consistent with the PF model at the behavioral level, the DMN-DAN anticorrelation suggests an improved capacity to modulate between internally focused and externally directed cognitive states. To replicate these findings, future studies with larger sample sizes and prospective designs are required to identify the unique functional connectivity of psychological flexibility.