Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition
Age-related trajectories of intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC), which represent the interconnections between discrete regions of the human brain, for processes related to social cognition (SC) provide evidence for social development through neural imaging and can guide clinical interventions wh...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348781/full |
| _version_ | 1797198179238674432 |
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| author | Zhi-Xiong Yan Zhe He Ling-Hui Jiang Xia Zou |
| author_facet | Zhi-Xiong Yan Zhe He Ling-Hui Jiang Xia Zou |
| author_sort | Zhi-Xiong Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Age-related trajectories of intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC), which represent the interconnections between discrete regions of the human brain, for processes related to social cognition (SC) provide evidence for social development through neural imaging and can guide clinical interventions when such development is atypical. However, due to the lack of studies investigating brain development over a wide range of ages, the neural mechanisms of SC remain poorly understood, although considerable behavior-related evidence is available. The present study mapped vortex-wise iFC features between SC networks and the entire cerebral cortex by using common functional networks, creating the corresponding age-related trajectories. Three networks [moral cognition, theory of mind (ToM), and empathy] were selected as representative SC networks. The Enhanced Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample (NKI-RS, N = 316, ages 8–83 years old) was employed delineate iFC characteristics and construct trajectories. The results showed that the SC networks display unique and overlapping iFC profiles. The iFC of the empathy network, an age-sensitive network, with dorsal attention network was found to exhibit a linear increasing pattern, that of the ventral attention network was observed to exhibit a linear decreasing pattern, and that of the somatomotor and dorsal attention networks was noted to exhibit a quadric-concave iFC pattern. Additionally, a sex-specific effect was observed for the empathy network as it exhibits linear and quadric sex-based differences in iFC with the frontoparietal and vision networks, respectively. The iFC of the ToM network with the ventral attention network exhibits a pronounced quadric-convex (inverted U-shape) trajectory. No linear or quadratic trajectories were noted in the iFC of the moral cognition network. These findings indicate that SC networks exhibit iFC with both low-level (somatomotor, vision) and high-level (attention and control) networks along specific developmental trajectories. The age-related trajectories determined in this study advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms of SC, providing valuable references for identification and intervention in cases of development of atypical SC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T06:55:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b04a848996f14708bd5eed0e59514b6a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T06:55:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b04a848996f14708bd5eed0e59514b6a2024-04-22T12:41:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-04-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.13487811348781Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognitionZhi-Xiong Yan0Zhe He1Ling-Hui Jiang2Xia Zou3Guangxi Center of Developmental Population Neuroscience, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, ChinaGuangxi Center of Developmental Population Neuroscience, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, ChinaGuangxi Center of Developmental Population Neuroscience, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, ChinaContinuing Education School, Guangxi College for Preschool Education, Nanning, ChinaAge-related trajectories of intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC), which represent the interconnections between discrete regions of the human brain, for processes related to social cognition (SC) provide evidence for social development through neural imaging and can guide clinical interventions when such development is atypical. However, due to the lack of studies investigating brain development over a wide range of ages, the neural mechanisms of SC remain poorly understood, although considerable behavior-related evidence is available. The present study mapped vortex-wise iFC features between SC networks and the entire cerebral cortex by using common functional networks, creating the corresponding age-related trajectories. Three networks [moral cognition, theory of mind (ToM), and empathy] were selected as representative SC networks. The Enhanced Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample (NKI-RS, N = 316, ages 8–83 years old) was employed delineate iFC characteristics and construct trajectories. The results showed that the SC networks display unique and overlapping iFC profiles. The iFC of the empathy network, an age-sensitive network, with dorsal attention network was found to exhibit a linear increasing pattern, that of the ventral attention network was observed to exhibit a linear decreasing pattern, and that of the somatomotor and dorsal attention networks was noted to exhibit a quadric-concave iFC pattern. Additionally, a sex-specific effect was observed for the empathy network as it exhibits linear and quadric sex-based differences in iFC with the frontoparietal and vision networks, respectively. The iFC of the ToM network with the ventral attention network exhibits a pronounced quadric-convex (inverted U-shape) trajectory. No linear or quadratic trajectories were noted in the iFC of the moral cognition network. These findings indicate that SC networks exhibit iFC with both low-level (somatomotor, vision) and high-level (attention and control) networks along specific developmental trajectories. The age-related trajectories determined in this study advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms of SC, providing valuable references for identification and intervention in cases of development of atypical SC.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348781/fullage-related trajectoriessocial cognitionintrinsic functional connectivitymoralitytheory of mindempathy |
| spellingShingle | Zhi-Xiong Yan Zhe He Ling-Hui Jiang Xia Zou Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition Frontiers in Psychology age-related trajectories social cognition intrinsic functional connectivity morality theory of mind empathy |
| title | Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition |
| title_full | Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition |
| title_fullStr | Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition |
| title_short | Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition |
| title_sort | age related trajectories of the development of social cognition |
| topic | age-related trajectories social cognition intrinsic functional connectivity morality theory of mind empathy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348781/full |
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