Brain Activity During the Gradual-Onset Continuous Performance Task in Adolescents: An Exploratory fMRI Study
Jade Awada1,2, Natalia Fernandez1, Vanessa Siffredi1,3
1Division of Development and Growth, Department of Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Brain and Behavior
|June 4, 2026
Summary
Adolescents showed brain activation in sustained attention and inhibition regions, but performance challenges limited interpretation. This study offers methodological insights for applying adult cognitive paradigms to adolescent research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for the maturation of sustained attention and inhibition.
- Understanding these cognitive processes in adolescents is crucial for developmental research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sustained attention and inhibition in typically developing adolescents using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- To explore the neural correlates of sustained attention and inhibition in adolescents aged 11-18 years.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a gradual-onset continuous performance task (gradCPT) with face and scene modalities during fMRI acquisition.
- Performed linear regression analyses to correlate brain activation with behavioral performance and covariates.
Main Results:
- Adolescents exhibited significantly lower target detection accuracy compared to adults, with better performance in the scene condition.
- Despite behavioral challenges, fMRI revealed activation in fronto-parieto-occipital regions during attempted response inhibition.
- Brain activity correlated with behavioral measures, though interpretation was limited by low accuracy rates.
Conclusions:
- The study identified brain activation in regions associated with sustained attention and inhibition in adolescents.
- Performance challenges necessitate cautious interpretation of neural findings and highlight methodological considerations for developmental studies.
- Findings provide insights into adapting adult cognitive paradigms for adolescent populations.
