Abstract
The developmental cognitive neuroscience literature has grown exponentially over the last decade. This paper reviews the functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) literature on brain function development of typically late developing functions of cognitive
and motivation control, timing and attention as well as of resting state neural networks. Evidence shows that between childhood
and adulthood, concomitant with cognitive maturation, there is progressively increased functional activation in task-relevant
lateral and medial frontal, striatal and parieto-temporal brain regions that mediate these higher level control functions.
This is accompanied by progressively stronger functional inter-regional connectivity within task-relevant fronto-striatal
and fronto-parieto-temporal networks. Negative age associations are observed in earlier developing posterior and limbic regions,
suggesting a shift with age from the recruitment of “bottom-up” processing regions towards “top-down” fronto-cortical and
fronto-subcortical connections, leading to a more mature, supervised cognition. The resting state fMRI literature further
complements this evidence by showing progressively stronger deactivation with age in anti-correlated task-negative resting
state networks, which is associated with better task performance. Furthermore, connectivity analyses during the resting state
show that with development increasingly stronger long-range connections are being formed, for example, between fronto-parietal
and fronto-cerebellar connections, in both task-positive networks and in task-negative default mode networks, together with
progressively lesser short-range connections, suggesting progressive functional integration and segregation with age. Overall,
evidence suggests that throughout development between childhood and adulthood, there is progressive refinement and integration
of both task-positive fronto-cortical and fronto-subcortical activation and task-negative deactivation, leading to a more
mature and controlled cognition.
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) literature on brain function development of typically late developing functions of cognitive
and motivation control, timing and attention as well as of resting state neural networks. Evidence shows that between childhood
and adulthood, concomitant with cognitive maturation, there is progressively increased functional activation in task-relevant
lateral and medial frontal, striatal and parieto-temporal brain regions that mediate these higher level control functions.
This is accompanied by progressively stronger functional inter-regional connectivity within task-relevant fronto-striatal
and fronto-parieto-temporal networks. Negative age associations are observed in earlier developing posterior and limbic regions,
suggesting a shift with age from the recruitment of “bottom-up” processing regions towards “top-down” fronto-cortical and
fronto-subcortical connections, leading to a more mature, supervised cognition. The resting state fMRI literature further
complements this evidence by showing progressively stronger deactivation with age in anti-correlated task-negative resting
state networks, which is associated with better task performance. Furthermore, connectivity analyses during the resting state
show that with development increasingly stronger long-range connections are being formed, for example, between fronto-parietal
and fronto-cerebellar connections, in both task-positive networks and in task-negative default mode networks, together with
progressively lesser short-range connections, suggesting progressive functional integration and segregation with age. Overall,
evidence suggests that throughout development between childhood and adulthood, there is progressive refinement and integration
of both task-positive fronto-cortical and fronto-subcortical activation and task-negative deactivation, leading to a more
mature and controlled cognition.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Review
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0291-8
- Authors
- Katya Rubia, Department of Child Psychiatry/SGDP, Institute of Psychiatry, P046, King’s College London, De Crepigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827