title: Persistency and flexibility of complex brain networks underlie dual-task interference.
abstract: Previous studies on multitasking suggest that performance decline during concurrent task processing arises from interfering brain modules. Here, we used graph-theoretical network analysis to define functional brain modules and relate the modular organization of complex brain networks to behavioral dual-task costs. Based on resting-state and task fMRI we explored two organizational aspects potentially associated with behavioral interference when human subjects performed a visuospatial and speech task simultaneously: the topological overlap between persistent single-task modules, and the flexibility of single-task modules in adaptation to the dual-task condition. Participants showed a significant decline in visuospatial accuracy in the dual-task compared with single visuospatial task. Global analysis of topological similarity between modules revealed that the overlap between single-task modules significantly correlated with the decline in visuospatial accuracy. Subjects with larger overlap between single-task modules showed higher behavioral interference. Furthermore, lower flexible reconfiguration of single-task modules in adaptation to the dual-task condition significantly correlated with larger decline in visuospatial accuracy. Subjects with lower modular flexibility showed higher behavioral interference. At the regional level, higher overlap between single-task modules and less modular flexibility in the somatomotor cortex positively correlated with the decline in visuospatial accuracy. Additionally, higher modular flexibility in cingulate and frontal control areas and lower flexibility in right-lateralized nodes comprising the middle occipital and superior temporal gyri supported dual-tasking. Our results suggest that persistency and flexibility of brain modules are important determinants of dual-task costs. We conclude that efficient dual-tasking benefits from a specific balance between flexibility and rigidity of functional brain modules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Lab, European Medical School, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alavash
authors.affiliation: Department of Computational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.|Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215.
authors.forename: Claus C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hilgetag
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Lab, European Medical School, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.|Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Lab, European Medical School, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.|Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gießing
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012146:Rest; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: complex networks; fMRI; flexibility; interference; modularity; multitasking