Smartphone-Based Assessments of Negative Language Use, Central Executive Network Coherence, and Depression in Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescent depression has been associated with negative cognitive biases and functional connectivity within the central executive network (CEN), a brain network broadly associated with executive functioning. Assessing negative cognitive biases using self-report or laboratory-based measures, however, has significant limitations. Smartphone-based technology permits probing of naturalistic language use as a proxy for cognitive processing, including negative biases. In this context, therefore, we examined associations among negative language use, CEN coherence, and depression in adolescents.