Lifespan differences in background functional connectivity of core cognitive large-scale brain networks

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Lifespan Development

Background:

• Large-scale brain networks reorganize throughout life, affecting cognitive function.
• Task-based network connectivity provides insights complementary to resting-state analyses.
• Understanding age-related changes in brain networks is crucial for cognitive health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related changes in background connectivity within and between major brain networks during a visual memory task.
• To compare task-based background connectivity with existing resting-state findings across the lifespan.
• To explore how background connectivity reflects cognitive aging and development.

Main Methods:

• Assessed within- and between-network background connectivity (task-independent connectivity) in the default mode, salience, and frontoparietal networks.
• Utilized a visual memory-encoding task in a lifespan sample.
• Regressed out task-specific effects to isolate background network connectivity.

Main Results:

• Salience and frontoparietal networks showed decreased within-network background connectivity in older adults.
• Default mode network background connectivity did not differ by age group, contrasting with resting-state findings.
• Increased between-network background connectivity between the default mode and other networks was observed in mid-life and late-life adults.

Conclusions:

• Lifespan findings align with age-related network de-differentiation, particularly in frontoparietal and salience networks.
• Default mode network background connectivity offers a distinct perspective compared to resting-state measures.
• Task-based background connectivity provides a complementary approach to understanding brain network dynamics across the lifespan.