Foundational executive functions in Adolescence
brain evidence
, Developmental neural correlates
General principles from previous lectures (e.g. face processing):
Same core regions activated across development [Klingberg et al. 2002, Kwon et al. 2002]
◦ But also… younger participants may activate additional regions [Finn et al. 2010]
Changes in activity with age
◦ Increase in task-dependent activity (BOLD signal change) with age [Klingberg et al.
2002, Kwon et al. 2002, Finn et al 2010, Crone et al. 2006]
Interactions with the network alter with age [some of the above + further reading]
Structure-function relationships
◦ [Age-dependent] relationships between brain activity, brain structure and
behavioural performance [Crone et al. 2006, Olesen et al. 2003, Tamnes et al. 2013,
Bathelt et al. 2018]
Relationship with theory
◦ Interactive Specialisation, skill learning or maturation? How can we know?
Klingberg et al. 2002
◦ Participants: N=14 aged 9-18; fMRI
◦ Task: Visuospatial WM task [vs. control task]
◦ Ppts were shown a set of sequentially presented memory targets. A circle and the
location of the circle varied and ppts had to remember the location of the circle.
There was a presentation period, followed by a delay period, followed by a probe
period. Looked at the response of whether the probe location matched the location
of the target.
fMRI results
◦ Similar fronto-parietal network activated across age – irrespective of age.
Not evidence for function.
◦ Age-related increase in activity in fronto-parietal WM regions
◦ Same core regions
◦ Age-related increase in activity
- Houdé et al. 2010 Dev Sci meta-analysis: EF tasks (including but not limited to WM)
Same core regions: Supporting evidence
Kwon et al. 2002
brain evidence
, Developmental neural correlates
General principles from previous lectures (e.g. face processing):
Same core regions activated across development [Klingberg et al. 2002, Kwon et al. 2002]
◦ But also… younger participants may activate additional regions [Finn et al. 2010]
Changes in activity with age
◦ Increase in task-dependent activity (BOLD signal change) with age [Klingberg et al.
2002, Kwon et al. 2002, Finn et al 2010, Crone et al. 2006]
Interactions with the network alter with age [some of the above + further reading]
Structure-function relationships
◦ [Age-dependent] relationships between brain activity, brain structure and
behavioural performance [Crone et al. 2006, Olesen et al. 2003, Tamnes et al. 2013,
Bathelt et al. 2018]
Relationship with theory
◦ Interactive Specialisation, skill learning or maturation? How can we know?
Klingberg et al. 2002
◦ Participants: N=14 aged 9-18; fMRI
◦ Task: Visuospatial WM task [vs. control task]
◦ Ppts were shown a set of sequentially presented memory targets. A circle and the
location of the circle varied and ppts had to remember the location of the circle.
There was a presentation period, followed by a delay period, followed by a probe
period. Looked at the response of whether the probe location matched the location
of the target.
fMRI results
◦ Similar fronto-parietal network activated across age – irrespective of age.
Not evidence for function.
◦ Age-related increase in activity in fronto-parietal WM regions
◦ Same core regions
◦ Age-related increase in activity
- Houdé et al. 2010 Dev Sci meta-analysis: EF tasks (including but not limited to WM)
Same core regions: Supporting evidence
Kwon et al. 2002
