fMRI reveals reciprocal inhibition between social and physical cognitive domains

► Physical reasoning tasks activate the TPN and deactivate the DMN. ► Social reasoning tasks deactivate the TPN and activate the DMN. ► Activated/deactivated regions match areas of maximal anti-correlation. ► Findings are not explained by task engagement, or internal vs. external attention. ► TPN versus DMN dichotomy reflects opposing cognitive modes.