Variation in moment-to-moment brain state engagement changes across development and contributes to individual differences in executive function

Jean Ye; Link Tejavibulya; Wei Dai; Lora M. Cope; Jillian E. Hardee; Mary M. Heitzeg; Sarah D. Lichenstein; Sarah W. Yip; Tobias Banaschewski; Gareth J Baker; Arun L.W. Bokde; Rüdiger Brühl; Sylvane Desrivières; Herta Flor; Penny Anne Gowland; Antoine Grigis; Andreas Heinz; Jean‐Luc Martinot; Marie‐Laure Paillère Martinot; Eric Artiges A; Frauke Nees; Dimitri Papadopoulos Orfanos; Luise Poustka; Sarah Hohmann; Nathalie E. Holz; Christian Baeuchl; Michael N. Smolka; Nilakshi Vaidya; Henrik Walter; Robert Whelan

doi:10.1101/2024.09.06.611627

NeurosciencebioRxivSep 6, 2024

Preprint

Variation in moment-to-moment brain state engagement changes across development and contributes to individual differences in executive function

Jean Ye iD, Link Tejavibulya iD, Wei Dai iD, Lora M. Cope, Jillian E. Hardee iD, Mary M. Heitzeg iD, Sarah D. Lichenstein iD, Sarah W. Yip iD, Tobias Banaschewski iD, Gareth J Baker, Arun L.W. Bokde iD, Rüdiger Brühl iD, Sylvane Desrivières iD, Herta Flor iD, Penny Anne Gowland iD, Antoine Grigis iD, Andreas Heinz iD, Jean‐Luc Martinot iD, Marie‐Laure Paillère Martinot iD, Eric Artiges A iD, Frauke Nees iD, Dimitri Papadopoulos Orfanos iD, Luise Poustka iD, Sarah Hohmann iD, Nathalie E. Holz iD, , Dustin Scheinost iD

Abstract

Neural variability, or variation in brain signals, facilitates dynamic brain responses to ongoing demands. This flexibility is important during development from childhood to young adulthood, a period characterized by rapid changes in experience. However, little is known about how variability in the engagement of recurring brain states changes during development. Such investigations would require the continuous assessment of multiple brain states concurrently. Here, we leverage a new computational framework to study state engagement variability (SEV) during development. A consistent pattern of SEV changing with age was identified across cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets (N>3000). SEV developmental trajectories stabilize around mid-adolescence, with timing varying by sex and brain state. SEV successfully predicts executive function (EF) in youths from an independent dataset. Worse EF is further linked to alterations in SEV development. These converging findings suggest SEV changes over development, allowing individuals to flexibly recruit various brain states to meet evolving needs.

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