Characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI study
Abstract Behavioural studies investigating the relationship between Executive Functions (EFs) demonstrated evidence that different EFs are correlated with each other, but also that they are partially independent from each other. Neuroimaging studies investigating such an interrelationship with respe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11433-z |
| _version_ | 1811250487438082048 |
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| author | Rahmi Saylik Adrian L. Williams Robin A. Murphy Andre J. Szameitat |
| author_facet | Rahmi Saylik Adrian L. Williams Robin A. Murphy Andre J. Szameitat |
| author_sort | Rahmi Saylik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Behavioural studies investigating the relationship between Executive Functions (EFs) demonstrated evidence that different EFs are correlated with each other, but also that they are partially independent from each other. Neuroimaging studies investigating such an interrelationship with respect to the functional neuroanatomical correlates are sparse and have revealed inconsistent findings. To address this question, we created four tasks derived from the same basic paradigm, one each for updating, inhibition, switching, and dual-tasking. We assessed brain activity through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in twenty-nine participants while they performed the four EF tasks plus control tasks. For the analysis, we first determined the neural correlates of each EF by subtracting the respective control tasks from the EF tasks. We tested for unity in EF tasks by calculating the conjunction across these four “EF-minus-control” contrasts. This identified common areas including left lateral frontal cortices [middle and superior frontal gyrus (BA 6)], medial frontal cortices (BA 8) as well as parietal cortices [inferior and superior parietal lobules (BA 39/7)]. We also observed areas activated by two or three EF tasks only, such as frontoparietal areas [e.g., SFG (BA8) right inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), left precuneus (BA 7)], and subcortical regions [bilateral thalamus (BA 50)]. Finally, we found areas uniquely activated for updating [bilateral MFG (BA 8) and left supramarginal gyrus (BA 39)], inhibition (left IFG BA 46), and dual-tasking [left postcentral gyrus (BA 40)]. These results demonstrate that the functional neuroanatomical correlates of the four investigated EFs show unity as well as diversity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:05:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7514102087f2412c9a702ddb4305a605 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:05:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7514102087f2412c9a702ddb4305a6052022-12-22T03:26:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-05-0112111310.1038/s41598-022-11433-zCharacterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI studyRahmi Saylik0Adrian L. Williams1Robin A. Murphy2Andre J. Szameitat3Department of Psychology, Mus Alparslan UniversityDepartment of Life Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Brunel University LondonDepartment of Experimental Psychology, University of OxfordDepartment of Life Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Brunel University LondonAbstract Behavioural studies investigating the relationship between Executive Functions (EFs) demonstrated evidence that different EFs are correlated with each other, but also that they are partially independent from each other. Neuroimaging studies investigating such an interrelationship with respect to the functional neuroanatomical correlates are sparse and have revealed inconsistent findings. To address this question, we created four tasks derived from the same basic paradigm, one each for updating, inhibition, switching, and dual-tasking. We assessed brain activity through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in twenty-nine participants while they performed the four EF tasks plus control tasks. For the analysis, we first determined the neural correlates of each EF by subtracting the respective control tasks from the EF tasks. We tested for unity in EF tasks by calculating the conjunction across these four “EF-minus-control” contrasts. This identified common areas including left lateral frontal cortices [middle and superior frontal gyrus (BA 6)], medial frontal cortices (BA 8) as well as parietal cortices [inferior and superior parietal lobules (BA 39/7)]. We also observed areas activated by two or three EF tasks only, such as frontoparietal areas [e.g., SFG (BA8) right inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), left precuneus (BA 7)], and subcortical regions [bilateral thalamus (BA 50)]. Finally, we found areas uniquely activated for updating [bilateral MFG (BA 8) and left supramarginal gyrus (BA 39)], inhibition (left IFG BA 46), and dual-tasking [left postcentral gyrus (BA 40)]. These results demonstrate that the functional neuroanatomical correlates of the four investigated EFs show unity as well as diversity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11433-z |
| spellingShingle | Rahmi Saylik Adrian L. Williams Robin A. Murphy Andre J. Szameitat Characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI study Scientific Reports |
| title | Characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI study |
| title_full | Characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI study |
| title_fullStr | Characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI study |
| title_short | Characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within-subject fMRI study |
| title_sort | characterising the unity and diversity of executive functions in a within subject fmri study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11433-z |
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