Structure-function coupling within the reward network in preschool children predicts executive functioning in later childhood

• DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101107
• Publication Date: 2022-03-30T17:06:54Z
• Authors: Shi Yu Chan; Zi Yan Ong; Zhen Ming Ngoh; Yap Seng Chong; Juan H. Zhou; Marielle V. Fortier; Lourdes M. Daniel; Anqi Qiu; Michael J. Meaney; Ai Peng Tan
• Keywords: Orbitofrontal cortex; Ventral striatum; Reward system

Early differences in reward behavior have been linked to executive functioning development. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are activated by reward-related tasks identified as key nodes of the brain circuit that underlie processing. We aimed investigate relation between NAc-OFC structural functional connectivity preschool children, well associations with future sensitivity function. showed were not significantly associated but both independently predicted males a left-lateralized manner. Moreover, significant structure-function coupling was only found individuals who performed poorly on function later childhood, middle- high-performing groups. As is proposed measure specialization, this finding suggests premature specialization within network, which may impede dynamic communication other regions, affects Our study also highlights utility multimodal imaging data integration when studying effects network flexibility age, critical period