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Protracted Maturation of Proactive and Reactive Systems Predicts Cognitive Stability and Psychopathology : A
Zhiyao Gao1, Li Zheng2, Tobias Banaschewski3
1Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Inhibitory control development stabilizes in adolescence. A brain network pattern predicts self-control, behavioral stability, and mental health risks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Inhibitory control develops throughout adolescence, but its neural underpinnings and links to psychiatric conditions are unclear.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for identifying developmental trajectories and potential risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the development of reactive and proactive inhibitory control networks using longitudinal fMRI data.
- To identify neural biomarkers associated with inhibitory control, behavioral stability, and psychopathology across development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in two independent cohorts (ABCD and IMAGEN).
- Novel single-trial modeling and representational similarity analysis were employed to examine neural dynamics.
- Brain-behavior coupling and network-level representational coherence were analyzed across different age groups.
Main Results:
- Both reactive and proactive inhibitory control networks mature and stabilize after mid-adolescence.
- Brain-behavior coupling to a proactive 'Safe state' strengthens with age, reflecting improved self-control.
- Network coherence of the 'Safe state' served as a stable biomarker predicting inhibitory control, stability, and psychopathology.
Conclusions:
- The study identifies a neural biomarker for inhibitory control and behavioral stability that emerges in adolescence.
- This 'Safe state' network coherence offers a promising target for precision psychiatry interventions.
- Findings advance our understanding of cognitive development and its implications for mental health across the lifespan.
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