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More Complex Cognitive Tasks Increasingly Connect Functionally Dissimilar Brain Regions.

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Title: More Complex Cognitive Tasks Increasingly Connect Functionally Dissimilar Brain Regions.
Authors: Zeitlen, Daniel C.1 (AUTHOR), Zhuang, Kaixiang1,2,3 (AUTHOR) zhuang2kx@gmail.com, Benedek, Mathias4 (AUTHOR), Qiu, Jiang2 (AUTHOR), Beaty, Roger E.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. Apr2026, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p806-825. 20p.
Subjects: Functional connectivity, Frontoparietal network, Creative ability, Default mode network, Cognitive ability, Large-scale brain networks, Cognitive load, Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Abstract: Complex cognition, such as creativity, relies on cognitive integration of various component processes (e.g., memory, attention, and imagery). Yet, current methods cannot fully capture how the brain integrates cognitive processes during complex tasks. Previous research suggests that communication between functionally dissimilar regions might underlie cognitive integration, allowing for complex cognition. Here, we provide a formal test of this notion using task-based fMRI (n = 28) to assess functional connectivity (FC) among sets of regions ("levels") varying in their functional dissimilarity (defined by differences in resting-state FC profiles) across five tasks hypothesized to vary in cognitive complexity. Each task involved conceptual association and/or idea generation. We found that as task complexity increased, task-FC between regions with greater functional dissimilarity also increased, and the strength of this linear trend positively predicted the relative complexity of tasks. Thus, more complex tasks recruited greater interactions between functionally dissimilar regions. Furthermore, this effect was primarily driven by the default mode and frontoparietal control networks, especially connector hubs within these networks. Task-FC at the highest functional dissimilarity levels was most related to metaphor production and bi-association (involving integrating two concepts), followed by generating novel object uses and uncommon association (involving expanding one concept), and was least related to common association (thus, this task was the least complex). Altogether, task-FC across functional dissimilarity levels robustly tracked the cognitive complexity of tasks, supporting the validity of this neural feature for measuring cognitive complexity in a continuous manner and for data-driven tests of theorized differences in task complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience is the property of MIT Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: More Complex Cognitive Tasks Increasingly Connect Functionally Dissimilar Brain Regions.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Functional+connectivity%22">Functional connectivity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Frontoparietal+network%22">Frontoparietal network</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Creative+ability%22">Creative ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Default+mode+network%22">Default mode network</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+ability%22">Cognitive ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Large-scale+brain+networks%22">Large-scale brain networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+load%22">Cognitive load</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Functional+magnetic+resonance+imaging%22">Functional magnetic resonance imaging</searchLink>
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  Data: Complex cognition, such as creativity, relies on cognitive integration of various component processes (e.g., memory, attention, and imagery). Yet, current methods cannot fully capture how the brain integrates cognitive processes during complex tasks. Previous research suggests that communication between functionally dissimilar regions might underlie cognitive integration, allowing for complex cognition. Here, we provide a formal test of this notion using task-based fMRI (n = 28) to assess functional connectivity (FC) among sets of regions ("levels") varying in their functional dissimilarity (defined by differences in resting-state FC profiles) across five tasks hypothesized to vary in cognitive complexity. Each task involved conceptual association and/or idea generation. We found that as task complexity increased, task-FC between regions with greater functional dissimilarity also increased, and the strength of this linear trend positively predicted the relative complexity of tasks. Thus, more complex tasks recruited greater interactions between functionally dissimilar regions. Furthermore, this effect was primarily driven by the default mode and frontoparietal control networks, especially connector hubs within these networks. Task-FC at the highest functional dissimilarity levels was most related to metaphor production and bi-association (involving integrating two concepts), followed by generating novel object uses and uncommon association (involving expanding one concept), and was least related to common association (thus, this task was the least complex). Altogether, task-FC across functional dissimilarity levels robustly tracked the cognitive complexity of tasks, supporting the validity of this neural feature for measuring cognitive complexity in a continuous manner and for data-driven tests of theorized differences in task complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience is the property of MIT Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1162/JOCN.a.2396
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Creative ability
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      – SubjectFull: Cognitive load
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      – SubjectFull: Functional magnetic resonance imaging
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      – TitleFull: More Complex Cognitive Tasks Increasingly Connect Functionally Dissimilar Brain Regions.
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              Text: Apr2026
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              Y: 2026
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