Dynamic reconfiguration of frontal brain networks during executive cognition in humans
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is hypothesized to require dynamic integration between brain areas. However, the time-dependent nature and distributed complexity of this integration remains poorly understood. Using recent advances in network science, we examine the functional integration between brain areas during a quintessential task that requires executive function. By linking brain regions (nodes) by their interactions (time-dependent edges), we uncover nontrivial modular structure: groups of brain regions cluster together into densely interconnected structures whose interactions change during task execution. Individuals with greater network reconfiguration in frontal cortices show enhanced memory performance, and score higher on neuropsychological tests challenging cognitive flexibility, suggesting that dynamic network reconfiguration forms a fundamental neurophysiological mechanism for executive function.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1422487112
Entities
People
- Andreas Heinz
- Andreas Meyer-lindenberg
- Axel Schäfer
- Danielle Bassett
- Heike Tost
- Henrik Walter
- Janina I. Schweiger
- Leila Haddad
- Nina Romanczuk-seiferth
- Oliver Grimm
- Susanne Erk
- Urs Braun
Organizations
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Army Research Office
- Charité
- Heidelberg University
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- United States Army Research Laboratory
- University of Pennsylvania