Study reveals how the brain's frontoparietal cortex adapts under uncertainty
University of Iowa researchers found that the brain's frontoparietal cortex, its central information hub, dynamically shifts its connections to other brain regions depending on the task at hand rather than simply working harder. The discovery could inform future research into conditions such as ADHD and schizophrenia.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have gained new insight into the frontoparietal cortex, a brain network often described as the brain's information hub. This region receives signals from across the brain, weighs their importance, and helps coordinate an appropriate response — functioning somewhat like an air traffic controller managing a busy airport.
Using a combination of computational modeling and brain imaging, the team found that the frontoparietal cortex does not communicate with the rest of the brain through a fixed pattern. Instead, its connections shift depending on what type of information is needed at each stage of a decision.
How the experiment worked
The study involved 38 participants aged 18 to 35, who learned to associate combinations of colors, faces, and scenes with specific responses, such as pressing a button with a particular finger on either hand. Researchers later changed these learned associations, requiring participants to notice the shift, learn new pairings, and respond correctly. This manipulation introduced uncertainty, allowing researchers to observe how the frontoparietal cortex altered its connections with other brain systems as participants worked out what had changed.
By combining behavioral data with functional MRI scans, the researchers built a computational model that separated signals from different brain regions and showed how the frontoparietal cortex integrated them.
Relevance to psychiatric conditions
The researchers say the findings could eventually support research into psychiatric and neurological conditions where this information exchange functions differently, including ADHD and schizophrenia. Difficulty adjusting behavior when circumstances change, a common challenge in ADHD, may reflect problems with this integration process.
The study, "Frontoparietal hub connectivity integrates information from multiple sources," was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. It was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Iowa Neuroscience Institute.
