Prefrontal structural correlates of cognitive control during adolescent development: a 4-year longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Cognitive control abilities mature throughout adolescence.
• This maturation is linked to the protracted structural development of associated neural regions.
• Understanding the developmental trajectories of cognitive control and its neural underpinnings is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal relationship between the development of proactive and reactive cognitive control.
• To examine the association between cognitive control development and structural maturation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions (dorsolateral PFC, ventrolateral PFC [vlPFC]).
• To explore potential sex differences in these developmental relationships.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design with 92 adolescents assessed at age 12 and again approximately 4 years later.
• Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans acquired at both time points.
• Modified Stroop task administered to assess proactive and reactive cognitive control.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in reactive control were observed between early and mid-adolescence.
• Enhanced proactive control development correlated with reduced thinning in the right vlPFC.
• Improved reactive control development was associated with reduced thinning in the left ACC, specifically in males.

Conclusions:

• Individual differences in ACC and vlPFC maturation contribute to the development of distinct cognitive control forms during adolescence.
• The findings highlight sex-specific relationships between neural maturation and cognitive control development.
• This research provides insights into the neurodevelopmental basis of cognitive control during adolescence.