Multimodal network dynamics underpinning working memory

Andrew C Murphy,Lia Papadopoulos,Maxwell A Bertolero,Danielle S Bassett,David M Lydon-Staley

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15541-0

Andrew C Murphy, Lia Papadopoulos + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15541-0

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Abstract

Complex human cognition arises from the integrated processing of multiple brain systems. However, little is known about how brain systems and their interactions might relate to, or perhaps even explain, human cognitive capacities. Here, we address this gap in knowledge by proposing a mechanistic framework linking frontoparietal system activity, default mode system activity, and the interactions between them, with individual differences in working memory capacity. We show that working memory performance depends on the strength of functional interactions between the frontoparietal and default mode systems. We find that this strength is modulated by the activation of two newly described brain regions, and demonstrate that the functional role of these systems is underpinned by structural white matter. Broadly, our study presents a holistic account of how regional activity, functional connections, and structural linkages together support integrative processing across brain systems in order for the brain to execute a complex cognitive process.

Highlights

Complex human cognition arises from the integrated processing of multiple brain systems
We propose that the dynamics of the frontoparietal system directly modulate the strength of the functional connection between the frontoparietal and default-mode systems
Using an unsupervised clustering algorithm informed by an explicit model of network architecture, we demonstrated that the frontoparietal system is decomposable into two subnetworks with distinct patterns of functional connections

Summary

Introduction

Complex human cognition arises from the integrated processing of multiple brain systems. Little is known about how brain systems and their interactions might relate to, or perhaps even explain, human cognitive capacities We address this gap in knowledge by proposing a mechanistic framework linking frontoparietal system activity, default mode system activity, and the interactions between them, with individual differences in working memory capacity. We show that working memory performance depends on the strength of functional interactions between the frontoparietal and default mode systems We find that this strength is modulated by the activation of two newly described brain regions, and demonstrate that the functional role of these systems is underpinned by structural white matter. Intersystem competition might allow for a pattern of whole-brain dynamics characterized by heightened activity in the frontoparietal system coupled with decreased activity in the default-mode system Explaining such a pattern of dynamics is important in light of evidence that it favors improved working memory performance[14]. We use the model to probe which model parameters are able to produce the observed phenomena, and to test our hypotheses about the relationships between activity, anatomical connectivity, and functional interactions

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