Modular functional brain network organization contributes to training-related changes in task switching in children

Abstract

Cognitive training often aims to improve cognitive skills, but improvements in cognitive performance have been variable. One factor that has been found to predict training outcomes is the degree of modularity of functional brain networks, defined as the extent to which brain regions are more strongly connected to regions within the same functional subnetwork than to regions outside of the subnetwork. Specifically, more modular organization of functional brain networks at baseline has been associated with greater benefits from cognitive training in adults. During childhood, cognitive development is marked by a slow progression towards network integration and segregation, which together contribute to increasing modularity. Thus, network modularity might also be an important predictor of training outcomes in children. To investigate whether individual differences in network modularity predict outcomes of task-switching training in children, we examined 87 children aged 8 to 11 years who completed nine weeks of varying amounts of task-switching training. Prior to training, children showed lower network modularity than adults, in line with previously reported developmental changes in network configuration. More modular organization of functional brain networks before training was associated with higher overall accuracy during task switching and with faster improvements in integrated speed-accuracy scores, especially at the beginning of training. These results suggest that more modular functional networks might allow for faster adaptation to training demands in children and thus faster improvements with training.