Every thought or action brings together different kinds of information. If we go to the fridge for milk, we combine knowledge of the spatial layout of the kitchen, sensory input from the contents of the fridge, our goal of making tea and our knowledge of what tea requires, as well as the commands that move our body. These different things are processed in different brain networks, and we need to sew them together into the correct sequence of operations. Using high-resolution brain imaging, our study defines a specific brain network underlying cognitive integration. With parts widely distributed across the brain, and strong connections between these parts, this network is well placed for bringing different kinds of information together. Unlike networks specialised for individual cognitive functions, such as face recognition or memory, the integration network is active during many different kinds of thought and behaviour, indicating its core role in organizing our mental lives.
Assem, M., Glasser, M. F., Van Essen, D. C., & Duncan, J. (2020). A domain-general cognitive core defined in multimodally parcellated human cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 30, 4361-4380