Asymmetric neural dynamics of switching between internal and external cognitive domains

This study (N=46 EEG; N=60 fMRI) investigated neural asymmetries in switching between externally-guided (color similarity) and internally-guided (color preference) cognition. Internal-to-external switching produced robust, sustained neural differentiation from early time points, engaging visual and motor regions. Conversely, external-to-internal switching showed minimal neural effects—only brief, late differentiation. Paradoxically, behavioral costs appeared only for external-to-internal transitions. The frontoparietal control network showed minimal engagement for either direction. The results suggested that internal-to-external requiring active network reconfiguration, while external-to-internal reflects passive return toward default mode baseline—challenging symmetric cognitive control frameworks. bioRxiv: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.27.683183v1