A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Examination of the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Shifting in Dimensional Change Card Sort Task.

Hui Li,Chunqi Chang,Sha Xie,Jiutong Luo,Jinfeng Yang,Dandan Wu

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2020.561223

Abstract

This study aims to examine the neural correlates of cognitive shifting during the Dimensional Change Card Sort Task (DCCS) task with functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Altogether 49 children completed the DCCS tasks, and 25 children (Mage = 68.66, SD = 5.3) passing all items were classified into the Switch group. Twenty children (Mage = 62.05, SD = 8.13) committing more than one perseverative errors were grouped into the Perseverate group. The Switch group had Brodmann Area (BA) 9 and 10 activated in the pre-switch period and BA 6, 9, 10, 40, and 44 in the post-switch period. In contrast, the Perseverate group had BA 9 and 10 activated in the pre-switch period and BA 8, 9, 10 in the post-switch period. The general linear model results afford strong support to the “V-shape curve” hypothesis by identifying a significant decrease–increase cycle in BA 9 and 44, the neural correlations of cognitive shifting.

Highlights

Cognitive shifting is a kind of ability to switch between different mental tasks flexibly and is widely regarded as a remarkable milestone in early cognitive development (Moriguchi and Hiraki, 2009, 2011, 2014; Buss and Spencer, 2014; Perone et al, 2015, 2019)
This study found two different patterns of neural correlates of cognitive shifting
The two patterns differed in the post-switch period: the Switch group activated Brodmann Area (BA) 6, BA 9, BA 10, BA 40, and BA 44, whereas the Perseverate group activated BA 8, BA 9, and BA 10

Summary

Introduction

Cognitive shifting is a kind of ability to switch between different mental tasks flexibly and is widely regarded as a remarkable milestone in early cognitive development (Moriguchi and Hiraki, 2009, 2011, 2014; Buss and Spencer, 2014; Perone et al, 2015, 2019). Many studies (i.e., Moriguchi and Hiraki, 2009, 2011, 2014) have recently examined the DCCS task using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and included all the activated brain areas as the “neural correlates” of cognitive shifting. This is problematic, as some brain areas are generally involved in the background and supportive systems; only a few areas are responsible for the initiating, controlling, and monitoring cognitive shifting needed in this task. This study will develop a new indicator to judge the occurrence of cognitive shifting in the DCCS task and to evaluate its applicability and effectiveness in the fNIRS study

Objectives

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Results

Conclusion