Default Mode Network vs. Task Positive Network: Why Kids Struggle to Focus and How Brain Switching Affects ADHD
- LFA
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The human brain constantly switches between different modes of activity depending on what we are doing or thinking. Two key brain networks involved in this dynamic are the Default Mode Network (DMN) and the Task Positive Network (TPN). Understanding how these networks work helps explain how the brain manages internal thoughts and external tasks, shaping our cognition, attention, and behavior.
What Is the Default Mode Network?
The Default Mode Network is a group of brain regions that become active when the mind is at rest and not focused on the outside world. The DMN supports functions like:
Daydreaming and mind-wandering
Reflecting on the past or imagining the future
Thinking about oneself or others (self-referential thought)
Processing social information and emotions
When you are not engaged in a specific task, the DMN is busy with these internal processes. For example, if you find yourself drifting into memories or planning your day while sitting quietly, your DMN is active.
What Is the Task Positive Network?
In contrast, the Task Positive Network activates when you focus on external tasks that require attention and problem-solving. The TPN supports:
Concentrating on goal-directed activities
Solving problems and making decisions
Processing sensory information from the environment
Controlling attention and inhibiting distractions
When you are reading a book, solving a math problem, or driving, the TPN takes charge to keep you focused and engaged.
How the Default Mode Network and Task Positive Network Affect Focus and Attention
The DMN and TPN have an inverse relationship. When one is active, the other tends to be suppressed. This push-pull dynamic helps the brain switch efficiently between internal thoughts and external focus. For example:
During rest or passive moments, the DMN dominates, allowing for reflection and creativity.
When a task demands attention, the TPN activates, and the DMN quiets down to reduce distractions.
This balance is crucial for healthy brain function. If the networks fail to switch properly, it can lead to problems such as difficulty concentrating or excessive rumination.
Examples of Brain Network Activity That Affect Focus in Daily Life
Consider a student studying for an exam. When they start reading and solving problems, the TPN activates to maintain focus. If their mind begins to wander to unrelated thoughts, the DMN becomes more active, causing distraction. Effective studying requires the brain to suppress the DMN and keep the TPN engaged.
In contrast, during creative activities like brainstorming or daydreaming, the DMN plays a key role. Writers, artists, and thinkers often rely on this network to generate ideas and imagine new possibilities.
Neural Networks & ADHD
For people with ADHD, the brain doesn’t always “switch gears” smoothly between the Default Mode Network and the Task Positive Network. Instead of one system turning off so another can fully turn on, both can stay active at the same time. It’s a bit like asking your child to listen to instructions while the TV is still playing in the background. They want to focus, but their brain is also busy with extra thoughts, ideas, and distractions that make it much harder to tune everything else out.
This difference isn’t a flaw or a failure of the brain. In fact, a more active DMN is often associated with creativity, divergent thinking, and strong internal awareness. The challenge arises mainly in environments that demand sustained, narrow focus for long periods without flexibility.
ADHD is not a "deficit"; it's actually too much attention to competing stimuli, or the inability to inhibit or ignore irrelevant cues. Understanding ADHD through the lens of the DMN–TPN toggle helps explain why focus can feel situational rather than constant, and why strategies that support smoother transitions between these networks (like structured breaks, external cues, or interest-based tasks) can be especially effective.
Practical Tips to Support the Brain’s Focus Toggle
It’s not a motivation problem; it’s a brain organization and attention regulation challenge. Your child may be working harder than you realize just to stay on task. Utilize these practical tips to support them with the toggle between the DMN and TPN:
Elementary school aged students:
Short focus bursts
Work in 10-to-15 minute chunks with planned movement breaks (jumping jacks, wall push-ups, stretching).
Movement helps reset attention and quiet background mental noise.
Middle school aged students*:
Teach “attention awareness”
Help your child notice when their brain is drifting: Ask yourself: "What am I thinking about right now?" or “Does this feel like a focused brain or a busy brain?”
Normalize refocusing as a skill, not a failure.
High School aged students:
Plan before working to provide clarity with the task. Before your child starts, have them complete the following:
Circle verbs - to help them understand how many steps are involved (e.g. draw, write, complete, include)
Highlight conjunctions (and/or) - to help them identify what is required vs. additional
Label steps with numbers, to help them better understand how many steps are included before they reach their outcome. When students are stuck, it can often be because their brain sees all of the steps and can't find a starting point.
*These steps can also be used for middle school students, as well.
When students recognize the strategy that suits them best, transitioning from the DMN to the TPN becomes less challenging. Follow along this month, as we highlight more strategies and provide additional insight via Instagram & FB - @learningforallsd.
