Functional connectivity between task-positive and task-negative brain areas and its relation to working memory performance

Abstract

Functional brain imaging studies have identified a set of brain areas typically activated during cognitive tasks (task-positive brain areas) and another set of brain areas typically deactivated during cognitive tasks (task-negative brain areas). Negative correlations, or anticorrelations, between taskpositive and task-negative brain areas have been reported at rest. Furthermore, the strength of these anticorrelations appears to be related to cognitive function. However, studies examining anticorrelations have typically employed global regression or similar analysis steps that force anticorrelated relationships to exist between brain areas. Therefore the validity of these findings has been questioned. Here we examine anticorrelations between a task-negative region in the medial frontal gyrus/anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a classic task-positive area, using an analysis that does not include global regression. Instead, we control for whole-brain correlations in the group-level analysis. Using this approach, we demonstrate that the strength of the functional connection between the medial frontal cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is related to cognitive function and that this relationship is not an artifact of global regression.

Does transcranial direct current stimulation enhance cognitive and motor functions in the ageing brain? A systematic review and meta- analysis

“…During task performance it has been observed that task relevant networks (task-positive) exhibit increased activity, whereas networks associated with task irrelevant or opposing (tasknegative) processes show decreased activity. Strong anti-correlations between task-positive and task-negative networks have been shown to be predictive of cognitive task performance, including working memory (Hampson et al, 2010). Interestingly, anodal tDCS reduced task-…”

Chronology and Chronicity of Altered Resting-State Functional Connectivity after Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Color image is available online at www.liebertpub.com/neu implicated extensively in a network important for selecting salient stimuli and guiding behavior in coordination with multiple other brain systems, [68][69][70] and the structural integrity of this network has been found to be crucial for DMN functioning in severe TBI. 71 Given that concurrent modulations of the DMN and task-positive regions have been found to support task performance in healthy individuals, [72][73][74][75] an increase in antiphase synchrony during the clinical recovery period may signify a restoration of balanced network function necessary for efficient cognitive processing. In keeping with the view of the DMN and TPN as reciprocal networks, co-occurring internetwork (PCC-TPN) antiphase synchrony and residual intranetwork (PCC-DMN) synchrony may be two parts of a larger effect involving the modulation and optimal balancing of distributed networks.…”

Prefrontal Cortical Mechanisms Underlying Individual Differences in Cognitive Flexibility and Stability

“…A study by Kelley and colleagues (2008) suggests that task performance, in the sense of low intraindividual variability, does benefit from a negative correlation between activity in the task-negative and task-positive networks during engagement in a task. However, methodological issues concerning the analysis of strength and direction of such correlations are currently a matter of debate (Hampson, Driesen, Roth, Gore, & Constable, 2010;Murphy, Birn, Handwerker, Jones, & Bandettini, 2009). A more recent study by Gordon, Stollstorff, Devaney, Bean, and Vaidya (2011) characterized connectivity only in relative terms: these authors found a dopaminergic effect on connectivity between the taskpositive and task-negative networks.…”