Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Psychiatry, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Psychiatry, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Neuropsychologia. 2014 Jan;53:171-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.11.015. Epub 2013 Nov 28.
Ample evidence shows that the basal ganglia play an important role in cognitive flexibility. However, traditionally, cognitive processes have most commonly been associated with the prefrontal cortex. Indeed, current theoretical models of basal ganglia function suggest the basal ganglia interact with the prefrontal cortex and thalamus, via anatomical fronto-striato-thalamic circuits, to implement cognitive flexibility. Here we aimed to assess this hypothesis in humans by associating individual differences in cognitive flexibility with white matter microstructure of the basal ganglia. To this end we employed an attention switching paradigm in adults with ADHD and controls, leading to a broad range in task performance. Attention switching performance could be predicted based on individual differences in white matter microstructure in/around the basal ganglia. Crucially, local white matter showing this association projected to regions in the prefrontal cortex and thalamus. Our findings highlight the crucial role of the basal ganglia and the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit for cognitive flexibility.
大量证据表明，基底神经节在认知灵活性中发挥着重要作用。然而，传统上，认知过程最常与前额叶皮层相关联。事实上，目前基底神经节功能的理论模型表明，基底神经节通过解剖学的额纹状体丘脑回路与前额叶皮层和丘脑相互作用，以实现认知灵活性。在这里，我们通过将认知灵活性的个体差异与基底神经节的白质微观结构相关联，旨在在人类中评估这一假设。为此，我们在 ADHD 患者和对照组的成年人中采用了注意力转换范式，导致任务表现广泛。基于基底神经节内/周围白质微观结构的个体差异，可以预测注意力转换性能。至关重要的是，显示这种关联的局部白质投射到前额叶皮层和丘脑的区域。我们的研究结果强调了基底神经节和额纹状体丘脑回路对于认知灵活性的关键作用。
