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

Ivan L. Simpson-Kent; Eiko I. Fried; Danyal Akarca; Silvana Mareva; Edward T. Bullmore;  the CALM Team; Rogier A. Kievit

doi:10.3390/jintelligence9020032

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.

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

10.1101/2020.11.15.383869 ◽

2020 ◽

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 ◽

Detection Algorithms ◽

Partial Correlations ◽

Clique Percolation ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior

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.

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The Neuropsychiatric View of Brain and Behavior

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s135561770125512x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 651-652

Author(s):

Gregory P. Lee

Keyword(s):

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Clinical Psychology ◽

Valuable Resource ◽

Behavioral Neurology ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior ◽

Brain Behavior ◽

The Brain

This volume is an introductory text summarizing much of the brain–behavior literature emphasizing the neuroanatomical underpinnings of psychiatric disorders. Because it has been written by a neuroanatomist and a neuropsychiatrist, much of the material in the book is typically not covered in the more orthodox texts written from a behavioral neurology or neuropsychological perspective. As such, this volume will be a valuable resource for students and practitioners of clinical psychology and psychiatry.

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An integrative, multidisciplinary approach to the study of brain–behavior relations in the context of typical and atypical development

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579402003061 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 499-520 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

CHARLES A. NELSON ◽

FLOYD E. BLOOM ◽

JUDY L. CAMERON ◽

DAVID AMARAL ◽

RONALD E. DAHL ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Development ◽

21St Century ◽

Nonhuman Primate ◽

Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

Developmental Psychology ◽

Transdisciplinary Approach ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

Atypical Development ◽

And Behavior ◽

Brain Behavior

The study of brain development and that of behavioral development have historically proceeded independently of one another. This is an unfortunate set of circumstances, given that the disciplines concerned with development—for example, developmental psychology, pediatrics, psychiatry, clinical psychology, and the neurosciences—have much to learn from each other. Drawing on recent advances in the developmental brain and behavioral sciences, we illustrate the transdisciplinary approach our group has adopted in the service of uniting the research on brain and behavior in the context of development. We specifically report on our nonhuman primate and human studies that collectively illustrate our “genes to behavior” approach to the study of development. Our goal in summarizing our research in this fashion is to promote discussion about promising templates for how research on brain, behavior, and development might proceed into the 21st century.

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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

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Evolution, Brain, & Behavior Evolution of Brain and Behavior in Vertebrates R. B. Masterton M. E. Bitterman C. G. G. Campbell Nicholas Hotton Evolution, Brain, and Behavior: Persistent Problems R. B. Masterton William Hodos Harry Jerison

BioScience ◽

10.2307/1297560 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 27 (10) ◽

pp. 690-690

Author(s):

Farish A. Jenkins,

Keyword(s):

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior ◽

Brain Behavior

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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.

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