Connectome-based predictive modeling of fluid intelligence: Evidence for a global system of functionally integrated brain networks

Wilcox, Ramsey

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120469 Copy

Description

Title

Connectome-based predictive modeling of fluid intelligence: Evidence for a global system of functionally integrated brain networks

Author(s)

Wilcox, Ramsey

Issue Date

2023-05-05

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Barbey, Aron

Committee Member(s)

Sadaghiani, Sepideh

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Neuroscience
• Intelligence, fMRI

Abstract

Cognitive neuroscience continues to advance our understanding of the neural foundations of human intelligence, with significant progress elucidating the role of the frontoparietal network in cognitive control mechanisms for flexible, intelligent behavior. Recent evidence in network neuroscience further suggests that this finding may represent the tip of the iceberg and that fluid intelligence may depend on the collective interaction of multiple brain networks. However, the global brain mechanisms underlying fluid intelligence and the nature of multi-network interactions remain to be well established. We therefore conducted a large-scale connectome-based predictive modeling study, administering resting-state fMRI to 159 healthy college students and examining the contributions of seven intrinsic connectivity networks to the prediction of fluid intelligence, as measured by a state-of-the-art cognitive task (the BOMAT). Specifically, we aimed to: (i) identify whether fluid intelligence relies on a primary brain network or instead engages multiple brain networks; and (ii) elucidate the nature of brain network interactions by assessing network allegiance (within- versus between-network connections) and network topology (strong versus weak connections) in the prediction of fluid intelligence. Our results demonstrate that whole-brain predictive models account for a large and significant proportion of variance in fluid intelligence (18%) and illustrate that the contribution of individual networks is relatively modest by comparison. In addition, we provide novel evidence that the global architecture of fluid intelligence prioritizes between-network connections and flexibility through weak ties. Our findings support a network neuroscience approach to understanding the collective role of brain networks in fluid intelligence and elucidate the system-wide network mechanisms from which flexible, adaptive behavior is constructed.

Graduation Semester

2023-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120469

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Ramsey Wilcox

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