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Title: Differences in the functional brain architecture of sustained attention and working memory in youth and adults
Sustained attention (SA) and working memory (WM) are critical processes, but the brain networks supporting these abilities in development are unknown. We characterized the functional brain architecture of SA and WM in 9–11-year-old children and adults. First, we found that adult network predictors of SA generalized to predict individual differences and fluctuations in SA in youth. A WM model predicted WM performance both across and within children—and captured individual differences in later recognition memory—but underperformed in youth relative to adults. We next characterized functional connections differentially related to SA and WM in youth compared to adults. Results revealed two network configurations: a dominant architecture predicting performance in both age groups and a secondary architecture, more prominent for WM than SA, predicting performance in each age group differently. Thus, functional connectivity predicts SA and WM in youth, with networks predicting WM performance differing more between youths and adults than those predicting SA.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1952050
PAR ID:
10466654
Author(s) / Creator(s):
Publisher / Repository:
PLoS Biology
Date Published:
Volume:
20
Issue:
12
Page Range / eLocation ID:
e3001938
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
sustained attention, working memory, fMRI, functional connectivity, predictive modeling, child development
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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