Chronnectomic patterns and neural flexibility underlie executive function
Open accessAbstract
Despite extensive research into executive function (EF), the precise relationship between brain dynamics and flexible cognition remains unknown. Using a large, publicly available dataset (189 participants), we find that functional connections measured throughout 56min of resting state fMRI data comprise five distinct connectivity states. Elevated EF performance as measured outside of the scanner was associated with greater episodes of more frequently occurring connectivity states, and fewer episodes of less frequently occurring connectivity states. Frequently occurring states displayed metastable properties, where cognitive flexibility may be facilitated by attenuated correlations and greater functional connection variability. Less frequently occurring states displayed properties consistent with low arousal and low vigilance. These findings suggest that elevated EF performance may be associated with the propensity to occupy more frequently occurring brain configurations that enable cognitive flexibility, while avoiding less frequently occurring brain configurations related to low arousal/vigilance states. The current findings offer a novel framework for identifying neural processes related to individual differences in executive function.
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People with higher Wisconsin Card Sorting Test scores show more episodes of frequently occurring brain states and fewer episodes of infrequent states previously linked to low vigilance and arousal.
“Individuals who score higher on the WCST exhibit more episodes of more frequently occurring brain states, and fewer episodes of less frequently occurring brain states that have previously been associated with low vigilance and arousal44 (Fig. 2c).”
From Cognitive and behavioural flexibility: Neural mechanisms and clinical considerations (2021) · cites this paper as [44]
Some whole-brain dynamic patterns are linked to higher cognitive flexibility.
“it has been shown that certain patterns of whole-brain dynamics are associated with elevated levels of cognitive flexibility.”
From Cognitive and behavioural flexibility: Neural mechanisms and clinical considerations (2021) · cites this paper as [44]
Individuals who score higher on a card sort task exhibit whole-brain functional connectivity dynamics characterized by greater episodes of more frequently occurring brain states and fewer episodes of less frequently occurring states associated with low vigilance and arousal.
“Individuals who score higher on a card sort task exhibited whole-brain functional connectivity dynamics characterized by greater episodes of more frequently occurring brain states, and fewer episodes of less frequently occurring states associated with low vigilance and arousal (107).”
From Brain Mechanisms Supporting Flexible Cognition and Behavior in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder (2021) · cites this paper as [107]
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- Authors
- Nomi, J. S., Vij, S. G., Dajani, D. R., Steimke, R., Damaraju, E., Rachakonda, S., Calhoun, V. D., & Uddin, L. Q.
- Affiliations
- University of Miami (US)
- Mind Research Network (US)
- Corresponding author
- Nomi, Jason S.
- Uddin, Lucina Q.
- ORCID
- Venue
- NeuroImage
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-02
- Volume
- 147
- Pages
- 861-871
- ISSN
- 1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5303676
- OpenAlex
- W2538925442
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 10
- FWCI
- 6.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 377 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- NeuroImage (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01EB020407)
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
- National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (P20GM103472)
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- executive function, cognitive flexibility, resting-state functional connectivity, metastability, neural flexibility, individual differences, arousal, sustained attention, brain dynamics
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Net, Young Adult, Executive Function, Connectome
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