Inter-Individual Differences in Striatal Connectivity Is Related to Executive Function Through Fronto-Parietal
Fahimeh Darki1, Bruno Sauce1, Torkel Klingberg1
1Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|September 11, 2019
Summary
The striatum enhances executive functions (EF) by strengthening brain connections. This study reveals the striatum
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- The striatum's role in cognition is established but mechanisms remain unclear.
- Executive functions (EF) are crucial for cognitive control.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the striatum's contribution to EF development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that the striatum supports executive function (EF) by strengthening cortico-cortical connections.
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of striatal contributions to EF.
- To explore the relationship between striatal connectivity and cognitive plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional connectivity was measured in 570 individuals (ages 3-20).
- Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data.
- A compound EF measure including working memory, inhibition, and set-shifting was employed.
Main Results:
- Inter-individual differences in striatal connectivity indirectly (via fronto-parietal connectivity) and directly impacted EF.
- Fronto-parietal connectivity's effect on cognition was age-independent.
- Striatal connectivity correlated with cognitive development, suggesting a role in cognitive plasticity.
Conclusions:
- The striatum promotes cognitive development by strengthening cortico-cortical connections.
- This finding offers a new principle for understanding striatal function in cognition.
- The striatum plays a key role in shaping cognitive abilities throughout childhood.
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