White Matter Connectivity and Executive Functions in Youth: Insights from Fixel-based analysis
Poster No:
926
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Xin-Yu Chen1, Rung-Yu Tseng2, Chun-Hung Yeh2, Ting-Ting Chang1,3
Institutions:
1Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei City, Taiwan, 2Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, 3Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei City, Taiwan
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Ting-Ting Chang
Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University|Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University
Taipei City, Taiwan|Taipei City, Taiwan
Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University|Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University
Taipei City, Taiwan|Taipei City, Taiwan
Introduction:
Executive functions (EFs), such as inhibition, working memory, and shifting (Miyake, 2000), are crucial in children and adolescents' learning, with their development tied to neural network connectivity (see Goddings et al., 2021 for a review). Despite the known impact of white matter integrity on EFs in aging (Vernooij et al., 2009), its role in the cognitive development of younger individuals is less certain and yields mixed results (e.g., Ursache et al., 2016; Liston et al., 2006). Additionally, traditional neuroimaging methods like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) face challenges in depicting complex neural structures. Our study addresses the limitations by using advanced fixel-based analysis (FBA) framework (Raffelt et al., 2017), providing a deeper understanding of how white matter fiber properties correlate with EFs during critical school years.
Methods:
A total of 48 children (F/M=33/15; age=7.87±0.47 years, range=7.07–8.75 years) and 34 adolescents (F/M=18/16; age=14.94±1.93 years, range=12.33–18.89) underwent diffusion MRI scans and assessments of EFs, specifically inhibition and working memory. The Flanker task and Wechsler's Digit Span Backwards subtest were used for these assessments, respectively. Whole-brain fixel-based analysis was conducted to investigate categorical differences (children vs. adolescents) in white matter micro-/macrostructure and the associations between white matter structure and EFs. These analyses involved assessing FBA metrics including fiber density (FD), fiber cross-section (FC), and the combined index (FDC). Statistical significance for all analyses was determined at a per-fixel P-FWE threshold of < 0.05.
Results:
Inter-group comparisons:
Compared to adolescents, children showed higher FD/FC/FDC in the bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule, higher FD/FDC in the bilateral fornix and bilateral external capsule, higher FC/FDC in the left anterior corona radiata (ACR), higher FD in the crus I and bilateral superior cerebellar peduncle, along with higher FC in the left cingulum (Fig. 1A). Conversely, there were some white matter tracts where children showed lower FBA metrics than adolescents, including lower FD/FC/FDC in the left superior corona radiata (SCR) and corpus callosum (CC), lower FD/FDC in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), lower FC/FDC in the bilateral corona radiata (CR) and bilateral corticospinal tracts (CST), as well as lower FDC in the left SLF (Fig. 1B).
Working memory:
FD/FDC in the left SLF, along with FDC in the CC and posterior thalamic radiation showed age group-by-working memory interactions (Fig. 2A). Within the children group, negative correlations between working memory capacity and FD/FC/FDC were found in CC. Additionally, working memory negatively correlated with FD/FDC in anterior commissure and posterior limb of internal capsule, with FC/FDC in fornix and left cerebral peduncle, and with FDC in the right CR (Fig. 2B). For the adolescent group, no significant associations were observed between working memory and fixel metrics.
Inhibition:
There were no significant interactions between age groups or correlations between inhibition and fixel metrics in either children or adolescents.
Compared to adolescents, children showed higher FD/FC/FDC in the bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule, higher FD/FDC in the bilateral fornix and bilateral external capsule, higher FC/FDC in the left anterior corona radiata (ACR), higher FD in the crus I and bilateral superior cerebellar peduncle, along with higher FC in the left cingulum (Fig. 1A). Conversely, there were some white matter tracts where children showed lower FBA metrics than adolescents, including lower FD/FC/FDC in the left superior corona radiata (SCR) and corpus callosum (CC), lower FD/FDC in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), lower FC/FDC in the bilateral corona radiata (CR) and bilateral corticospinal tracts (CST), as well as lower FDC in the left SLF (Fig. 1B).
Working memory:
FD/FDC in the left SLF, along with FDC in the CC and posterior thalamic radiation showed age group-by-working memory interactions (Fig. 2A). Within the children group, negative correlations between working memory capacity and FD/FC/FDC were found in CC. Additionally, working memory negatively correlated with FD/FDC in anterior commissure and posterior limb of internal capsule, with FC/FDC in fornix and left cerebral peduncle, and with FDC in the right CR (Fig. 2B). For the adolescent group, no significant associations were observed between working memory and fixel metrics.
Inhibition:
There were no significant interactions between age groups or correlations between inhibition and fixel metrics in either children or adolescents.
Conclusions:
Our study reveals a distinct developmental pattern in fiber tracts, highlighting changes in white matter micro-/macrostructure related to EFs. In children, there is a negative correlation between working memory and fronto-parietal (Krogsrud et al., 2018) and occipito-temporal tracts, indicative of increased neural efficiency potentially due to synaptic pruning and myelination. Conversely, in adolescents, the lack of significant correlations suggests a stabilization of mature neural pathways. The absence of correlations between inhibition and white matter in both age groups may stem from the rapid and diverse development of inhibition (Huizinga et al., 2006). These findings provide insights into the evolving relationship between brain connectivity and EFs across developmental stages.
Higher Cognitive Functions:
Executive Function, Cognitive Control and Decision Making 1
Learning and Memory:
Working Memory
Lifespan Development:
Normal Brain Development: Fetus to Adolescence
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Diffusion MRI Modeling and Analysis 2
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
Diffusion MRI
Keywords:
Cognition
Development
MRI
White Matter
WHITE MATTER IMAGING - DTI, HARDI, DSI, ETC
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Provide references using author date format
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Krogsrud, S.K. (2018), 'Development of white matter microstructure in relation to verbal and visuospatial working memory-A longitudinal study', PloS One, vol. 13, no. 4
Liston, C. (2006), 'Frontostriatal microstructure modulates efficient recruitment of cognitive control', Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 553-560
Miyake, A. (2000), 'The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex "Frontal Lobe" tasks: a latent variable analysis', Cognitive psychology, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 49-100
Raffelt, D.A. (2017), 'Investigating white matter fibre density and morphology using fixel-based analysis', NeuroImage, vol. 144, Pt A, pp. 58-73
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