1
|
Jansen JM, Franse ME. Executive functioning in antisocial behavior: A multi-level systematic meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 2024; 109:102408. [PMID: 38430781 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Neurobiological information - including executive functioning - is increasingly relevant for forensic clinical practice, as well as for the criminal justice system. Previous meta-analyses report that antisocial populations show impaired performance on executive functioning tasks, but these meta-analyses are outdated, have limitations in their methodological approach, and are therefore in need of an update. The current multi-level meta-analysis including 133 studies (2008-2023) confirms impaired performance in executive functioning (d=.42), but studies are heterogeneous. Several moderator analyses showed that neuropsychological test used, type of executive function component, and control group characteristics moderated the overall effect. Specifically, matching psychiatric problems in the non-antisocial control group eliminated any differences in executive functioning between groups. No moderation effects were found for assessment quality, hot or cold executive functions, and various population characteristics. These results could indicate that the assessment of executive functioning in antisocial populations may be less relevant for recidivism risk assessment than thought, although this should first be assessed in prospective longitudinal studies. Executive functioning could potentially be used to identify or screen for individuals with certain treatment needs or be used as a responsivity factor, especially in disorders which are often underdiagnosed in criminal justice settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jochem Milan Jansen
- Institute for Criminal Law & Criminology, Faculty of Law, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands; Inforsa, Arkin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Melanie Elisabeth Franse
- Netherlands Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Science and Education, Herman Gorterstraat 5, 3511EW Utrecht, Netherlands; Institute of Education and Child Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333AK Leiden, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ribeiro M, Yordanova YN, Noblet V, Herbet G, Ricard D. White matter tracts and executive functions: a review of causal and correlation evidence. Brain 2024; 147:352-371. [PMID: 37703295 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Executive functions are high-level cognitive processes involving abilities such as working memory/updating, set-shifting and inhibition. These complex cognitive functions are enabled by interactions among widely distributed cognitive networks, supported by white matter tracts. Executive impairment is frequent in neurological conditions affecting white matter; however, whether specific tracts are crucial for normal executive functions is unclear. We review causal and correlation evidence from studies that used direct electrical stimulation during awake surgery for gliomas, voxel-based and tract-based lesion-symptom mapping, and diffusion tensor imaging to explore associations between the integrity of white matter tracts and executive functions in healthy and impaired adults. The corpus callosum was consistently associated with all executive processes, notably its anterior segments. Both causal and correlation evidence showed prominent support of the superior longitudinal fasciculus to executive functions, notably to working memory. More specifically, strong evidence suggested that the second branch of the superior longitudinal fasciculus is crucial for all executive functions, especially for flexibility. Global results showed left lateralization for verbal tasks and right lateralization for executive tasks with visual demands. The frontal aslant tract potentially supports executive functions, however, additional evidence is needed to clarify whether its involvement in executive tasks goes beyond the control of language. Converging evidence indicates that a right-lateralized network of tracts connecting cortical and subcortical grey matter regions supports the performance of tasks assessing response inhibition, some suggesting a role for the right anterior thalamic radiation. Finally, correlation evidence suggests a role for the cingulum bundle in executive functions, especially in tasks assessing inhibition. We discuss these findings in light of current knowledge about the functional role of these tracts, descriptions of the brain networks supporting executive functions and clinical implications for individuals with brain tumours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Ribeiro
- Service de neuro-oncologie, Hôpital La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Pitié Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Sorbonne Université, 75013 Paris, France
- Université Paris Saclay, ENS Paris Saclay, Service de Santé des Armées, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Centre Borelli UMR 9010, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Yordanka Nikolova Yordanova
- Service de neurochirurgie, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Service de Santé des Armées, 92140 Clamart, France
| | - Vincent Noblet
- ICube, IMAGeS team, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR 7357, 67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Guillaume Herbet
- Praxiling, UMR 5267, CNRS, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, 34090 Montpellier, France
- Département de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
- Institut Universitaire de France
| | - Damien Ricard
- Université Paris Saclay, ENS Paris Saclay, Service de Santé des Armées, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Centre Borelli UMR 9010, 75006 Paris, France
- Département de neurologie, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Service de Santé des Armées, 92140 Clamart, France
- Ecole du Val-de-Grâce, 75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Younger JW, O’Laughlin KD, Anguera JA, Bunge SA, Ferrer EE, Hoeft F, McCandliss BD, Mishra J, Rosenberg-Lee M, Gazzaley A, Uncapher MR. Better together: novel methods for measuring and modeling development of executive function diversity while accounting for unity. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1195013. [PMID: 37554411 PMCID: PMC10405287 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1195013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Executive functions (EFs) are linked to positive outcomes across the lifespan. Yet, methodological challenges have prevented precise understanding of the developmental trajectory of their organization. METHODS We introduce novel methods to address challenges for both measuring and modeling EFs using an accelerated longitudinal design with a large, diverse sample of students in middle childhood (N = 1,286; ages 8 to 14). We used eight adaptive assessments hypothesized to measure three EFs, working memory, context monitoring, and interference resolution. We deployed adaptive assessments to equate EF challenge across ages and a data-driven, network analytic approach to reveal the evolving diversity of EFs while simultaneously accounting for their unity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Using this methodological paradigm shift brought new precision and clarity to the development of these EFs, showing these eight tasks are organized into three stable components by age 10, but refinement of composition of these components continues through at least age 14.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Wise Younger
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kristine D. O’Laughlin
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A. Anguera
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Silvia A. Bunge
- Department of Psychology & Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Emilio E. Ferrer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Fumiko Hoeft
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Brain Imaging Research Center (BIRC), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Bruce D. McCandliss
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Neural Engineering & Translation Labs, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | | | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Melina R. Uncapher
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Advanced Education Research and Development Fund, Oakland, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cheng P, Langevin R. Difficulties with emotion regulation moderate the relationship between child maltreatment and emotion recognition. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 139:106094. [PMID: 36796165 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emotion regulation (ER) and emotion recognition (ERC) deficits are frequently observed in the sequelae of child maltreatment (CM). Despite a wealth of research on emotional functioning, these emotional processes are often presented as independent but related functions. As such, there is currently no theoretical framework on how different components of emotional competence, such as ER and ERC, may be related to one another. OBJECTIVE The present study aims to empirically assess the relationship between ER and ERC by examining the moderating role of ER in the relationship between CM and ERC. A secondary objective is to explore whether unique CM subtypes, recognition of specific emotions, and ER dimensions are driving this relationship. METHODS A sample of 413 emerging adults (18-25 years) completed an online survey (CM history, ER difficulties) and an ERC task. RESULTS Moderation analysis indicated that in emerging adults with ER difficulties, as CM increased, the accuracy for negative emotions decreased (B = -0.02, SE = 0.01, t = -2.50, p = .01). Exploratory analyses revealed that most CM subtypes (sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, and exposure to domestic violence) significantly interacted with two ER dimensions (difficulty with impulsivity and limited access to ER strategies) and was associated with disgust, but not sadness, fear, nor anger recognition. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence for ERC impairment in emerging adults with more CM experiences and ER difficulties. The interplay between ER and ERC is important to consider in the study and treatment of CM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Polly Cheng
- McGill University, Educational and Counselling Psychology, Canada.
| | - Rachel Langevin
- McGill University, Educational and Counselling Psychology, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Coemans S, Keulen S, Savieri P, Tsapkini K, Engelborghs S, Chrispeels N, Vandenborre D, Paquier P, Wilssens I, Declerck M, Struys E. Executive functions in primary progressive aphasia: A meta-analysis. Cortex 2022; 157:304-322. [PMID: 36395634 PMCID: PMC11161026 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Executive functions (EFs) refer to a set of cognitive processes, specifically shifting, inhibition, updating of working memory, and are involved in the cognitive control of behavior. Conflicting results have been reported regarding impairments of EFs in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). We performed a multi-level meta-analysis to confirm whether deficits of EFs exist in this population, focusing on a common EFs composite, and the components shifting, inhibition and updating separately. We included 141 studies that report on 294 EFs tasks. The overall mean weighted effect size was large (d = -1,28), indicating poorer EFs in PPA as compared to age-matched cognitively healthy controls. Differences between effect sizes of the EFs components were not significant, indicating all components are affected similarly. Overall, moderator analysis revealed that PPA variant and disease duration were significant moderators of performance, while task modality and years of education were not. The non-fluent/agrammatic PPA and the logopenic PPA variants were similarly affected, but the semantic variant was affected to a lesser extent. We discuss implications for clinical and research settings, and future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silke Coemans
- Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Stefanie Keulen
- Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Perseverence Savieri
- Interfaculty Center for Data Processing and Statistics (ICDS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Biostatistics and Medical Informatics (BISI) Research Group, Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kyrana Tsapkini
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sebastiaan Engelborghs
- Neuroprotection & Neuromodulation, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nini Chrispeels
- Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dorien Vandenborre
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Philippe Paquier
- Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Center for Research in Cognition and Neurosciences (CRCN), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Translational Neurosciences (TNW), Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ineke Wilssens
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Declerck
- Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Esli Struys
- Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gustavson DE, Archer DB, Elman JA, Puckett OK, Fennema-Notestine C, Panizzon MS, Shashikumar N, Hohman TJ, Jefferson AL, Eyler LT, McEvoy LK, Lyons MJ, Franz CE, Kremen WS. Associations among executive function Abilities, free Water, and white matter microstructure in early old age. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 37:103279. [PMID: 36493704 PMCID: PMC9731853 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have investigated white matter microstructure in relation to late-life cognitive impairments, with fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) measures thought to capture demyelination and axonal degradation. However, new post-processing methods allow isolation of free water (FW), which captures extracellular fluid contributions such as atrophy and neuroinflammation, from tissue components. FW also appears to be highly relevant to late-life cognitive impairment. Here, we evaluated whether executive functions are associated with FW, and FA and MD corrected for FW (FAFWcorr and MDFWcorr). METHOD We examined 489 non-demented men in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) at mean age 68. Two latent factors capturing 'common executive function' and 'working-memory specific' processes were estimated based on 6 tasks. Analyses focused on 11 cortical white matter tracts across three metrics: FW, FAFWcorr, and MDFWcorr. RESULTS Better 'common executive function' was associated with lower FW across 9 of the 11 tracts. There were no significant associations with intracellular metrics after false discovery rate correction. Effects also appeared driven by individuals with MCI (13.7% of the sample). Working memory-specific tasks showed some associations with FAFWcorr, including the triangularis portion of the inferior frontal gyrus. There was no evidence that cognitive reserve (i.e., general cognitive ability assessed in early adulthood) moderated these associations between executive function and FW or FA. DISCUSSION Executive function abilities in early old age are associated primarily with extracellular fluid (FW) as opposed to white matter (FAFWcorr or MDFWcorr). Moderation analyses suggested cognitive reserve does not play a strong role in these associations, at least in this sample of non-demented men.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Gustavson
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA; Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Derek B Archer
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Niranjana Shashikumar
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Timothy J Hohman
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Angela L Jefferson
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
A cognitive neurogenetic approach to uncovering the structure of executive functions. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4588. [PMID: 35933428 PMCID: PMC9357028 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32383-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
One central mission of cognitive neuroscience is to understand the ontology of complex cognitive functions. We addressed this question with a cognitive neurogenetic approach using a large-scale dataset of executive functions (EFs), whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity, and genetic polymorphisms. We found that the bifactor model with common and shifting-specific components not only was parsimonious but also showed maximal dissociations among the EF components at behavioral, neural, and genetic levels. In particular, the genes with enhanced expression in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and the subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG) showed enrichment for the common and shifting-specific component, respectively. Finally, High-dimensional mediation models further revealed that the functional connectivity patterns significantly mediated the genetic effect on the common EF component. Our study not only reveals insights into the ontology of EFs and their neurogenetic basis, but also provides useful tools to uncover the structure of complex constructs of human cognition.
Collapse
|
8
|
Vargas TG, Damme KSF, Mittal VA. Differentiating distinct and converging neural correlates of types of systemic environmental exposures. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:2232-2248. [PMID: 35064714 PMCID: PMC8996350 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic environmental disadvantage relates to a host of health and functional outcomes. Specific structural factors have seldom been linked to neural structure, however, clouding understanding of putative mechanisms. Examining relations during childhood/preadolescence, a dynamic period of neurodevelopment, could aid bridge this gap. A total of 10,213 youth were recruited from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study. Self-report and objective measures (Census and Federal bureau of investigation metrics extracted using geocoding) of environmental exposures were used, including stimulation indexing lack of safety and high attentional demands, discrepancy indexing social exclusion/lack of belonging, and deprivation indexing lack of environmental enrichment. Environmental measures were related to cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume regions, controlling for other environmental exposures and accounting for other brain regions. Self-report (|β| = .04-.09) and objective (|β| = .02-.06) environmental domains related to area/thickness in overlapping (e.g., insula, caudal anterior cingulate), and unique regions (e.g., for discrepancy, rostral anterior and isthmus cingulate, implicated in socioemotional functions; for stimulation, precuneus, critical for cue reactivity and integration of environmental cues; and for deprivation, superior frontal, integral to executive functioning). For stimulation and discrepancy exposures, self-report and objective measures showed similarities in correlate regions, while deprivation exposures evidenced distinct correlates for self-report and objective measures. Results represent a necessary step toward broader work aimed at establishing mechanisms and correlates of structural disadvantage, highlighting the relevance of going beyond aggregate models by considering types of environmental factors, and the need to incorporate both subjective and objective measurements in these efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa G. Vargas
- Department of PsychologyNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
| | | | - Vijay A. Mittal
- Department of PsychologyNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Department of PsychiatryNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Department of Medical Social SciencesNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Institute for Innovations in Developmental SciencesNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Institute for Policy ResearchNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Friedman NP, Robbins TW. The role of prefrontal cortex in cognitive control and executive function. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:72-89. [PMID: 34408280 PMCID: PMC8617292 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 305] [Impact Index Per Article: 152.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Concepts of cognitive control (CC) and executive function (EF) are defined in terms of their relationships with goal-directed behavior versus habits and controlled versus automatic processing, and related to the functions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and related regions and networks. A psychometric approach shows unity and diversity in CC constructs, with 3 components in the most commonly studied constructs: general or common CC and components specific to mental set shifting and working memory updating. These constructs are considered against the cellular and systems neurobiology of PFC and what is known of its functional neuroanatomical or network organization based on lesioning, neurochemical, and neuroimaging approaches across species. CC is also considered in the context of motivation, as "cool" and "hot" forms. Its Common CC component is shown to be distinct from general intelligence (g) and closely related to response inhibition. Impairments in CC are considered as possible causes of psychiatric symptoms and consequences of disorders. The relationships of CC with the general factor of psychopathology (p) and dimensional constructs such as impulsivity in large scale developmental and adult populations are considered, as well as implications for genetic studies and RDoC approaches to psychiatric classification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naomi P Friedman
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hoagey DA, Lazarus LTT, Rodrigue KM, Kennedy KM. The effect of vascular health factors on white matter microstructure mediates age-related differences in executive function performance. Cortex 2021; 141:403-420. [PMID: 34130048 PMCID: PMC8319097 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Even within healthy aging, vascular risk factors can detrimentally influence cognition, with executive functions (EF) particularly vulnerable. Fronto-parietal white matter (WM) connectivity in part, supports EF and may be particularly sensitive to vascular risk. Here, we utilized structural equation modeling in 184 healthy adults (aged 20-94 years of age) to test the hypotheses that: 1) fronto-parietal WM microstructure mediates age effects on EF; 2) higher blood pressure (BP) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden influences this association. All participants underwent comprehensive cognitive and neuropsychological testing including tests of processing speed, executive function (with a focus on tasks that require switching and inhibition) and completed an MRI scanning session that included FLAIR imaging for semi-automated quantification of white matter hyperintensity burden and diffusion-weighted imaging for tractography. Structural equation models were specified with age (as a continuous variable) and blood pressure predicting within-tract WMH burden and fractional anisotropy predicting executive function and processing speed. Results indicated that fronto-parietal white matter of the genu of the corpus collosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the inferior frontal occipital fasciculus (but not cortico-spinal tract) mediated the association between age and EF. Additionally, increased systolic blood pressure and white matter hyperintensity burden within these white matter tracts contribute to worsening white matter health and are important factors underlying age-brain-behavior associations. These findings suggest that aging brings about increases in both BP and WMH burden, which may be involved in the degradation of white matter connectivity and in turn, negatively impact executive functions as we age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Hoagey
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Vital Longevity, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Linh T T Lazarus
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Karen M Rodrigue
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Vital Longevity, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kristen M Kennedy
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Vital Longevity, Dallas, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hsu CCH, Huang CC, Tsai SJ, Chen LK, Li HC, Lo CYZ, Lin CP. Differential Age Trajectories of White Matter Changes Between Sexes Correlate with Cognitive Performances. Brain Connect 2021; 11:759-771. [PMID: 33858197 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Aging is accompanied by a gradual deterioration in multiple cognitive abilities and brain structures. Both cognitive function and white matter (WM) structure are found to be associated with neurodegeneration diseases and correlated with sex during aging. However, it is still unclear whether the brain structural change could be attributable to sex, and how sex would affect cognitive performances during aging. Materials and Methods: Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed on 1127 healthy participants (age range: 21-89) at a single site. The age trajectories of the WM tract microstructure were delineated to estimate the turning age and changing rate between sexes. The canonical correlation analysis and moderated mediation analysis were used to examine the relationship between sex-linked WM tracts and cognitive performances. Results: The axon intactness and demyelination of sex-linked tracts during aging were multifaceted. Sex-linked tracts in females peak around 5 years later than those in males but change significantly faster after the turning age. Projection and association tracts (e.g., corticospinal tracts and parahippocampal cingulum) contributed to a significant decrease in visuospatial functions (VS) and executive functions (E). We discovered that there is a stronger indirect effect of sex-linked tracts on cognitive functions in females than in males. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the vulnerable projection and association tracts in females may induce negative impacts on integrating multiple functions, which results in a faster decrease in VS and E.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chin Heather Hsu
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Center of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chung Huang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Shih-Jen Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Liang-Kung Chen
- Center of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Aging and Health Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chun Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yi Zac Lo
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Aging and Health Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Martín-Signes M, Cano-Melle C, Chica AB. Fronto-parietal networks underlie the interaction between executive control and conscious perception: Evidence from TMS and DWI. Cortex 2020; 134:1-15. [PMID: 33248337 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The executive control network is involved in novel situations or those in which prepotent responses need to be overridden. Previous studies have demonstrated that when control is exerted, conscious perception is impaired, and this effect is related to the functional connectivity of fronto-parietal regions. In the present study, we explored the causal involvement of one of the nodes of this fronto-parietal network (the right Supplementary Motor Area, SMA) in the interaction between executive control and conscious perception. Participants performed a dual task in which they responded to a Stroop task while detecting the presence/absence of a near-threshold Gabor stimulus. Concurrently, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the right SMA or a control site (vertex; Experiment 1). As a further control, the right Frontal Eye Field (FEF) was stimulated in Experiment 2. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) tractography was used to isolate the three branches of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF I, II and III), and the frontal aslant tract (FAT), and to explore if TMS effects were related to their micro- and macrostructural characteristics. Results demonstrated reduced perceptual sensitivity on incongruent as compared to congruent Stroop trials. A causal role of the right SMA on the modulation of perceptual sensitivity by executive control was only demonstrated when the microstructure of the right SLF III or the left FAT were taken into account. The volume of the right SLF III was also related to the modulation of response criterion by executive control when the right FEF was stimulated. These results add evidence in favor of shared neural correlates for attention and conscious perception in fronto-parietal regions and highlight the role of white matter in TMS effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mar Martín-Signes
- Department of Experimental Psychology, and Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Cristina Cano-Melle
- Department of Experimental Psychology, and Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana B Chica
- Department of Experimental Psychology, and Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Glisky EL, Alexander GE, Hou M, Kawa K, Woolverton CB, Zigman EK, Nguyen LA, Haws K, Figueredo AJ, Ryan L. Differences between young and older adults in unity and diversity of executive functions. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 28:829-854. [PMID: 33028159 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1830936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Miyake and colleagues (2000) identified three independent but correlated components of executive function in young adults - set shifting, inhibition, and updating. The present study compared the factor structure in young adults to two groups of older adults (ages 60-73 and 74-98). A three-factor model of shifting, inhibition and updating was confirmed in young adults, but the factors were weakly or uncorrelated. In both older groups, a two-factor solution was indicated, updating/inhibition and shifting, which were moderately correlated in young-older adults, and strongly correlated in the old-older group. A nested factors model in the oldest group revealed a common factor, which loaded on all but one of the tests, and a shifting-specific factor. We concluded that in young adulthood, shifting, updating and inhibition may operate relatively independently. As people age and processing becomes less efficient, they may rely increasingly on general executive control processes, reallocating their limited resources to optimize performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gene E Alexander
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Mingzhu Hou
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kevin Kawa
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Erika K Zigman
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lauren A Nguyen
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kari Haws
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Lee Ryan
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Huang Y, Su L, Ma Q. The Stroop effect: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis in healthy young adults. Neurosci Lett 2020; 716:134683. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
15
|
Hutton JS, Dudley J, Horowitz-Kraus T, DeWitt T, Holland SK. Associations Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged Children. JAMA Pediatr 2020; 174:e193869. [PMID: 31682712 PMCID: PMC6830442 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limits on screen-based media use, citing its cognitive-behavioral risks. Screen use by young children is prevalent and increasing, although its implications for brain development are unknown. OBJECTIVE To explore the associations between screen-based media use and integrity of brain white matter tracts supporting language and literacy skills in preschool-aged children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study of healthy children aged 3 to 5 years (n = 47) was conducted from August 2017 to November 2018. Participants were recruited at a US children's hospital and community primary care clinics. EXPOSURES Children completed cognitive testing followed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and their parent completed a ScreenQ survey. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES ScreenQ is a 15-item measure of screen-based media use reflecting the domains in the AAP recommendations: access to screens, frequency of use, content viewed, and coviewing. Higher scores reflect greater use. ScreenQ scores were applied as the independent variable in 3 multiple linear regression models, with scores in 3 standardized assessments as the dependent variable, controlling for child age and household income: Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing, Second Edition (CTOPP-2; Rapid Object Naming subtest); Expressive Vocabulary Test, Second Edition (EVT-2; expressive language); and Get Ready to Read! (GRTR; emergent literacy skills). The DTI measures included fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD), which estimated microstructural organization and myelination of white matter tracts. ScreenQ was applied as a factor associated with FA and RD in whole-brain regression analyses, which were then narrowed to 3 left-sided tracts supporting language and emergent literacy abilities. RESULTS Of the 69 children recruited, 47 (among whom 27 [57%] were girls, and the mean [SD] age was 54.3 [7.5] months) completed DTI. Mean (SD; range) ScreenQ score was 8.6 (4.8; 1-19) points. Mean (SD; range) CTOPP-2 score was 9.4 (3.3; 2-15) points, EVT-2 score was 113.1 (16.6; 88-144) points, and GRTR score was 19.0 (5.9; 5-25) points. ScreenQ scores were negatively correlated with EVT-2 (F2,43 = 5.14; R2 = 0.19; P < .01), CTOPP-2 (F2,35 = 6.64; R2 = 0.28; P < .01), and GRTR (F2,44 = 17.08; R2 = 0.44; P < .01) scores, controlling for child age. Higher ScreenQ scores were correlated with lower FA and higher RD in tracts involved with language, executive function, and emergent literacy abilities (P < .05, familywise error-corrected), controlling for child age and household income. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study found an association between increased screen-based media use, compared with the AAP guidelines, and lower microstructural integrity of brain white matter tracts supporting language and emergent literacy skills in prekindergarten children. The findings suggest further study is needed, particularly during the rapid early stages of brain development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John S. Hutton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jonathan Dudley
- Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio,Educational Neuroimaging Center, Biomedical Engineering, Technion, Israel
| | - Tom DeWitt
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Scott K. Holland
- Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio,Medpace Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Shen KK, Welton T, Lyon M, McCorkindale AN, Sutherland GT, Burnham S, Fripp J, Martins R, Grieve SM. Structural core of the executive control network: A high angular resolution diffusion MRI study. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 41:1226-1236. [PMID: 31765057 PMCID: PMC7267982 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Executive function (EF) is a set of cognitive capabilities considered essential for successful daily living, and is negatively affected by ageing and neurodegenerative conditions. Underpinning EF performance are functional nodes in the executive control network (ECN), while the structural connectivity underlying this network is not well understood. In this paper, we evaluated the structural white matter tracts that interconnect the ECN and investigated their relationship to the EF performance. Using high‐angular resolution diffusion MRI data, we performed tractography analysis of structural connectivity in a cognitively normal cohort (n = 140), specifically targeting the connectivity between ECN nodes. Our data revealed the presence of a strongly‐connected “structural core” of the ECN comprising three components: interhemispheric frontal connections, a fronto‐parietal subnetwork and fronto‐striatal connections between right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right caudate. These pathways were strongly correlated with EF performance (p = .003). Post‐hoc analysis of subregions within the significant ECN connections showed that these effects were driven by a highly specific subset of interconnected cortical regions. The structural core subnetwork of the functional ECN may be an important feature crucial to a better future understanding of human cognition and behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Kai Shen
- Australian eHealth Research Centre, CSIRO, Floreat, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Welton
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew Lyon
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew N McCorkindale
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Greg T Sutherland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samantha Burnham
- Australian eHealth Research Centre, CSIRO, Floreat, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jurgen Fripp
- Australian eHealth Research Centre, CSIRO, Floreat, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ralph Martins
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stuart M Grieve
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Radiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|