Neural Substrates of the Development of Cognitive Control in Children Ages 5-10 Years

Citation

Sheridan, Margaret A.; Kharitonova, Maria; Martin, Rebecca E.; Chatterjee, Aparna; & Gabrieli, John D. E. (2014). Neural Substrates of the Development of Cognitive Control in Children Ages 5-10 Years. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 26(8), 1840-1850. PMCID: PMC4080218

Abstract

Cognitive conflict detection and resolution develops with age across childhood and likely supports age-related increases in other aspects of cognitive and emotional development. Little is known about the neural correlates of conflict detection and resolution in early childhood. In the current study, we investigated age-related change in neural recruitment during a blocked spatial-incompatibility task (Simon task) in children ages 5-10 years using fMRI. Cortical thickness was measured using structural MRI. Across all children, there was greater activation in right prefrontal and bilateral parietal cortices for incompatible than compatible conditions. In older children, compared with younger children, there was decreased activation and decreased gray matter thickness in the medial PFC. Thickness and activation changes across age were associated within participants, such that thinner cortex was associated with less activation in the rostral ACC. These findings suggest that developmental change in medial PFC activation supports performance on cognitive control tasks in early childhood.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00597

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2014

Journal Title

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

Author(s)

Sheridan, Margaret A.
Kharitonova, Maria
Martin, Rebecca E.
Chatterjee, Aparna
Gabrieli, John D. E.

PMCID

PMC4080218

ORCiD

Sheridan - 0000-0002-8909-7501