Metastability in the wild: A scoping review of empirical neuroimaging studies in humans

Abstract

Metastability is proposed as the mechanism supporting our adaptive responses to the environment. While extensive research has characterized brain metastability during rest and task performance, prior studies have mainly focused on understanding underlying mechanisms, with limited exploration of its application in mental processes and behaviors. This scoping review offers an overview of the existing empirical literature in this area. Through a systematic search that included 36 articles, our results reveal a predominance of resting-state fMRI studies, variability in how metastability is defined, and a lack of consideration for common confounds in neuroimaging data. The review concludes with suggestions for future research directions to address crucial unresolved issues in the field.