Zhao Jia, Liu Jiangang, Jiang Xin, Zhou Guifei, Chen Guowei, Ding Xiao P, Fu Genyue, Lee Kang
School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University Beijing, China.
School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong UniversityBeijing, China; Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada.
Front Neurosci. 2016 Oct 7;10:452. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00452. eCollection 2016.
Executive function (EF) plays vital roles in our everyday adaptation to the ever-changing environment. However, limited existing studies have linked EF to the resting-state brain activity. The functional connectivity in the resting state between the sub-regions of the brain can reveal the intrinsic neural mechanisms involved in cognitive processing of EF without disturbance from external stimuli. The present study investigated the relations between the behavioral executive function (EF) scores and the resting-state functional network topological properties in the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC). We constructed complex brain functional networks in the PFC from 90 healthy young adults using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). We calculated the correlations between the typical network topological properties (regional topological properties and global topological properties) and the scores of both the Total EF and components of EF measured by computer-based Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). We found that the Total EF scores were positively correlated with regional properties in the right dorsal superior frontal gyrus (SFG), whereas the opposite pattern was found in the right triangular inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Different EF components were related to different regional properties in various PFC areas, such as planning in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG), working memory mainly in the right MFG and triangular IFG, short-term memory in the left dorsal SFG, and task switch in the right MFG. In contrast, there were no significant findings for global topological properties. Our findings suggested that the PFC plays an important role in individuals' behavioral performance in the executive function tasks. Further, the resting-state functional network can reveal the intrinsic neural mechanisms involved in behavioral EF abilities.
执行功能（EF）在我们日常适应不断变化的环境中起着至关重要的作用。然而，现有的研究中，将EF与静息态脑活动联系起来的研究有限。大脑各子区域之间静息态的功能连接可以揭示参与EF认知加工的内在神经机制，而不受外部刺激的干扰。本研究调查了行为执行功能（EF）得分与前额叶皮质（PFC）静息态功能网络拓扑特性之间的关系。我们使用功能近红外光谱（fNIRS），从90名健康的年轻成年人构建了PFC中的复杂脑功能网络。我们计算了典型网络拓扑特性（区域拓扑特性和全局拓扑特性）与通过基于计算机的剑桥神经心理测试自动成套系统（CANTAB）测量的总EF得分和EF各成分得分之间的相关性。我们发现，总EF得分与右侧背侧额上回（SFG）的区域特性呈正相关，而在右侧三角额下回（IFG）则发现相反的模式。不同的EF成分与PFC不同区域的不同区域特性相关，例如右侧额中回（MFG）的计划功能、主要在右侧MFG和三角IFG的工作记忆、左侧背侧SFG的短期记忆以及右侧MFG的任务切换功能。相比之下，全局拓扑特性没有显著发现。我们的研究结果表明，PFC在个体执行功能任务的行为表现中起着重要作用。此外，静息态功能网络可以揭示参与行为EF能力的内在神经机制。
