The antagonism between cognitive flexibility and stability: behavior, neural bases and interindividual differences

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event The antagonism between cognitive flexibility and stability: behavior, neural bases and interindividual differences Kai Ueltzhöffer1, 2*, Diana J. Armbruster1, 2, Ulrike Basten2 and Christian J. Fiebach1, 2 1 BCCN Heidelberg-Mannheim, Germany 2 Goethe-University Frankfurt, Institute for Psychology, Germany In the present study, individual differences in cognitive flexibility and stability and their neural bases were examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Starting from computational models of working memory by Durstewitz and Seamans (2008), a new behavioral paradigm was developed, allowing us to assess cognitive flexibility in terms of task switching costs as well as cognitive stability in terms of distracter suppression. Individual differences were additionally captured by the relative number of switches in an ambiguous condition. The behavioral data showed reliable switching and distracter costs as well as an increased difficulty in the ambiguous condition, both in reaction times and error costs. Task performance relied on a distributed system of lateral and medial frontal, parietal and occipital regions. Cognitive flexibility additionally induced increased activation in the middle frontal gyrus/inferior frontal sulcus, while distracter suppression elicited increased activation in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Individual differences in cognitive flexibility modulated prefrontal processes, such that less flexible persons showed increased activity in the right inferior frontal junction area (IFJ) and bilateral DLPFC during task switching. The results of this study support a dichotomy of cognitive flexibility and stability and give first hints to the neural bases of interindividual differences in cognitive stability and flexibility. References Durstewitz, D., and Seamans, J. K. (2008). The dual-state theory of prefrontal cortex dopamine function with relevance to catechol-o-methyltransferase genotypes and schizophrenia. Biol. Psychiatry 64, 739–749. Keywords: Dopamine, dual state theory, Flexibility, interindividual differences, Neurons, networks and dynamical systems, stability Conference: BC11 : Computational Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Bernstein Conference & Neurex Annual Meeting 2011, Freiburg, Germany, 4 Oct - 6 Oct, 2011. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: neurons, networks and dynamical systems (please use "neurons, networks and dynamical systems" as keywords) Citation: Ueltzhöffer K, Armbruster DJ, Basten U and Fiebach CJ (2011). The antagonism between cognitive flexibility and stability: behavior, neural bases and interindividual differences. Front. Comput. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: BC11 : Computational Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Bernstein Conference & Neurex Annual Meeting 2011. doi: 10.3389/conf.fncom.2011.53.00150 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 22 Aug 2011; Published Online: 04 Oct 2011. * Correspondence: Mr. Kai Ueltzhöffer, BCCN Heidelberg-Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany, kueltzho@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Kai Ueltzhöffer Diana J Armbruster Ulrike Basten Christian J Fiebach Google Kai Ueltzhöffer Diana J Armbruster Ulrike Basten Christian J Fiebach Google Scholar Kai Ueltzhöffer Diana J Armbruster Ulrike Basten Christian J Fiebach PubMed Kai Ueltzhöffer Diana J Armbruster Ulrike Basten Christian J Fiebach Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.