Cortical thickness in frontoparietal and cingulo-opercular networks predicts executive function performance in older...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Executive functions are critical for daily living and are often impaired in older adults.
• Cortical thickness in specific brain networks is hypothesized to underpin distinct executive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between cortical thickness in executive control networks and executive function performance.
• To determine if distinct executive processes are differentially associated with specific neural networks.

Main Methods:

• Forty-one older adults underwent MRI scans and completed a battery of 5 executive function tests.
• Factor analysis identified two executive function factors: Complex Attention Control (CAC) and Sustained Executive Control (SEC).
• Linear regression models assessed the association between cortical thickness in the frontoparietal (F-P) and cingulo-opercular (C-O) networks and executive function factors.

Main Results:

• Factor analysis revealed two distinct executive function components: Complex Attention Control (CAC) and Sustained Executive Control (SEC).
• Greater cortical thickness in the frontoparietal (F-P) network predicted better CAC performance.
• Greater cortical thickness in the cingulo-opercular (C-O) network predicted better SEC performance.

Conclusions:

• A double dissociation was observed between cortical thickness in executive control networks and distinct executive processes.
• Results suggest that specific executive functions are predicted by cortical thickness in separate brain networks.