Common and unique network basis for externally and internally driven flexibility in cognition: From a developmental...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Cognitive flexibility is crucial for executive functions.
• Two types exist: reactive (externally driven) and spontaneous (internally driven).
• Developmental trajectories and neural underpinnings of these flexibilities are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate common and unique neural networks for reactive and spontaneous flexibility.
• Examine the influence of age and sex on these networks.
• Determine developmental changes using longitudinal data.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cross-sectional and longitudinal resting-state fMRI data (N=249, ages 6-35).
• Analyzed functional connectivity strength (static) and nodal flexibility (dynamic).
• Applied statistical models to assess age, sex, and network effects.

Main Results:

• Both flexibility types exhibited quadratic age effects, linked to frontoparietal network connectivity and flexibility.
• Ventral attention network flexibility predicted later reactive flexibility gains.
• Dorsal attention network properties predicted spontaneous flexibility gains.
• Sex differences in flexibility were moderated by dorsal attention network flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Reactive and spontaneous flexibility share developmental pathways but also diverge.
• Distinct neural networks support each type of cognitive flexibility during development.
• Findings inform understanding of cognitive flexibility in neuropsychiatric disorders.