Spontaneous thought orientation tracked by fMRI networks and EEG alpha power dynamics

Abstract Understanding how spontaneous, rather than experimentally induced, thoughts relate to brain activity remains a major challenge. We combined simultaneous fMRI and EEG recordings with Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) to link momentary, naturally occurring experiences to their neural signatures during rest. Using machine-learning classification of 240 time-locked samples from eight participants—each completing nine 25-minute resting-state sessions—we reliably distinguished internally from externally oriented experiences (fMRI accuracy = 65.4%, EEG = 62.5%). Externally oriented states showed greater fMRI activity in salience, auditory, and visuospatial networks and lower occipital alpha power in EEG, whereas internally oriented states exhibited the opposite pattern, extending prior DMN-focused accounts of internally directed states. Across modalities, integrated resting-state alpha power correlated negatively with BOLD fluctuations in parietal and occipital regions. These multimodal findings reveal distinct neural signatures of spontaneous experience and demonstrate that coordinated large-scale network dynamics and alpha-band oscillations track the natural alternation between inward and outward focus in the human mind. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.