Bridging brain and cognition: A multilayer network analysis of brain structural covariance and general intelligence in a developmental sample of struggling learners

ABSTRACTNetwork analytic methods that are ubiquitous in other areas, such as systems neuroscience, have recently been used to test network theories in psychology, including intelligence research. The network or mutualism theory of intelligence proposes that the statistical associations among cognitive abilities (e.g. specific abilities such as vocabulary or memory) stem from causal relations among them throughout development. In this study, we used network models (specifically LASSO) of cognitive abilities and brain structural covariance (grey and white matter) to simultaneously model brain-behavior relationships essential for general intelligence in a large (behavioral, N=805; cortical volume, N=246; fractional anisotropy, N=165), developmental (ages 5-18) cohort of struggling learners (CALM). We found that mostly positive, small partial correlations pervade both our cognitive and neural networks. Moreover, calculating node centrality (absolute strength and bridge strength) and using two separate community detection algorithms (Walktrap and Clique Percolation), we found convergent evidence that subsets of both cognitive and neural nodes play an intermediary role between brain and behavior. We discuss implications and possible avenues for future studies.

Download Full-text

Bridging Brain and Cognition: A Multilayer Network Analysis of Brain Structural Covariance and General Intelligence in a Developmental Sample of Struggling Learners

Journal of Intelligence ◽

10.3390/jintelligence9020032 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 32

Author(s):

Ivan L. Simpson-Kent ◽

Eiko I. Fried ◽

Danyal Akarca ◽

Silvana Mareva ◽

Edward T. Bullmore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Network Models ◽

General Intelligence ◽

Struggling Learners ◽

Structural Covariance ◽

Partial Correlations ◽

Intermediary Role ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior ◽

Brain Behavior

Network analytic methods that are ubiquitous in other areas, such as systems neuroscience, have recently been used to test network theories in psychology, including intelligence research. The network or mutualism theory of intelligence proposes that the statistical associations among cognitive abilities (e.g., specific abilities such as vocabulary or memory) stem from causal relations among them throughout development. In this study, we used network models (specifically LASSO) of cognitive abilities and brain structural covariance (grey and white matter) to simultaneously model brain–behavior relationships essential for general intelligence in a large (behavioral, N = 805; cortical volume, N = 246; fractional anisotropy, N = 165) developmental (ages 5–18) cohort of struggling learners (CALM). We found that mostly positive, small partial correlations pervade our cognitive, neural, and multilayer networks. Moreover, using community detection (Walktrap algorithm) and calculating node centrality (absolute strength and bridge strength), we found convergent evidence that subsets of both cognitive and neural nodes play an intermediary role ‘between’ brain and behavior. We discuss implications and possible avenues for future studies.

Download Full-text

Reading and cognitive abilities: Longitudinal studies of brain and behavior changes in young children

Annals of Dyslexia ◽

10.1007/s11881-002-0008-7 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 99-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Dennis L. Molfese ◽

Victoria J. Molfese ◽

Sasha Key ◽

Arlene Modglin ◽

Spencer Kelley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Children ◽

Longitudinal Studies ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Behavior Changes ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior

Download Full-text

Cognition and reproductive success in cowbirds

Learning & Behavior ◽

10.3758/s13420-021-00506-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David J. White ◽

J. Arthur ◽

H. B. Davies ◽

M. F. Guigueno

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Cognitive Skills ◽

Egg Production ◽

Molothrus Ater ◽

Breeding Behavior ◽

Research Experiences ◽

Strongly Connected ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior

AbstractUnderstanding the relationships between cognitive abilities and fitness is integral to an evolutionary study of brain and behavior. However, these relationships are often difficult to measure and detect. Here we draw upon an opportunistic sample of brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) subjects that had two separate research experiences: First, they engaged in a large series of cognitive tests in David Sherry’s Lab in the Advanced Facility for Avian Research (AFAR) at Western University, then subsequently moved to the Field Avian Research Megalab (FARM) at Wilfrid Laurier University where they lived in large breeding flocks in aviaries with other wild-caught cowbirds. Thus, we had extensive measures of cognitive abilities, breeding behavior, and reproductive success for these birds. We report here, for the fist time, the surprisingly strong connections we found among these different measures. Female cowbirds’ spatial cognitive abilities correlated positively with how intensely they were courted by males, and with their overall egg production. Males’ spatial cognition correlated positively with their ability to engage in singing contests (“countersinging”) with other males. In addition, a separate non-spatial cognitive ability correlated positively with the attractiveness of the songs they sung. In sum, these results suggest the cognitive skills assessed in the lab were strongly connected to breeding behavior and reproductive success. Moreover, since certain cognitive abilities related to different aspects of breeding success, it suggests that cognitive modules may have specialized adaptive value, but also that these specialized skills may interact and influence fitness in surprising ways.

Download Full-text