title: Asynchrony in executive networks predicts cognitive slowing in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive slowing is a core neuropsychological symptom of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We aimed to assess the extent to which cognitive slowing in MS was predicted by changes in dorsolateral prefrontal networks.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed patients with relapsing-remitting MS and healthy controls (HCs) on measures of processing speed. Participants underwent a functional MRI while performing a processing speed task to allow assessment of task-based connectivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were slower than HCs on the processing speed tasks. Patients showed attenuated connectivity between right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and task-relevant brain regions compared to HCs during processing speed task performance. Patients' connectivity with DLPFC in these group-disparate networks accounted for significant variability in their performance on processing speed measures administered both in and out of the imaging environment. Specifically, patients who had stronger functional connections with DLPFC in group-disparate networks performed faster than patients with weaker connections with DLPFC in group-disparate networks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that MS-related cognitive slowing can be accounted for by systemic alterations in executive functional networks.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for BrainHealth, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Joanna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for Brain-Health, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Monroe P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for Brain-Health, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Saranya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for Brain-Health, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oasay
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for Brain-Health, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for Brain-Health, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for Brain-Health, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physiology and Wellness, Southern Methodist University.
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Remington
authors.affiliation: Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
authors.forename: Bharat B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Biswal
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for BrainHealth, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
authors.forename: Teresa C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Frohman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
authors.forename: Elliot M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Frohman
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The Center for BrainHealth, University of Texas at Dallas.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rypma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis