The modulation of BOLD variability between cognitive states varies by age and processing speed
Douglas D Garrett1, Natasa Kovacevic, Anthony R McIntosh
1Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|March 16, 2012
Summary
Brain variability, measured by blood oxygen level-dependent signal, distinguishes cognitive tasks from rest. Younger adults show increased brain variability during tasks, unlike older adults, suggesting reduced neural specificity with age.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Brain variability is increasingly recognized for its functional roles in neural systems.
- The link between brain variability and dynamic cognitive demands is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how experimental conditions modulate brain variability.
- To examine age-related differences in brain variability during cognitive tasks.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal variability.
- Participants included healthy younger and older adults.
- Experimental conditions involved fixation (rest) and external cognitive demand tasks.
Main Results:
- BOLD signal variability effectively differentiated between fixation and cognitive demand states.
- Brain variability generally increased during task conditions compared to fixation, especially in younger, faster adults.
- Older and slower adults showed diminished changes in brain variability, indicating reduced neural specificity.
Conclusions:
- Increased brain variability during tasks may reflect a more dynamic neural system with a greater range between brain states.
- This enhanced dynamic range may support efficient processing of varied and unexpected stimuli.
- The study highlights developmental and performance correlates of brain variability transitions, offering insights into brain states during rest versus task.
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