Executive function develops during adolescence, yet it remains unknown how structural brain networks mature to facilitate activation of the fronto-parietal system, which is critical for executive function. In a sample of 946 human youths (ages 8-23y) who completed diffusion imaging, we capitalized upon recent advances in linear dynamical network control theory to calculate the energetic cost necessary to activate the fronto-parietal system through the control of multiple brain regions given existing structural network topology. We found that the energy required to activate the fronto-parietal system declined with development, and the pattern of regional energetic cost predicts unseen individuals' brain maturity. Finally, energetic requirements of the cingulate cortex were negatively correlated with executive performance, and partially mediated the development of executive performance with age. Our results reveal a mechanism by which structural networks develop during adolescence to reduce the theoretical energetic costs of transitions to activation states necessary for executive function.

中文翻译：

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能量状态转变轨迹的优化支持青年时期执行功能的发展

执行功能在青春期期间发展，但尚不清楚结构性脑网络如何成熟以促进额顶系统的激活，这对执行功能至关重要。在946位完成扩散成像的人类年轻人（8-23岁）的样本中，我们利用线性动力学网络控制理论的最新进展来计算通过控制给定的多个大脑区域来激活额顶系统的能量成本现有的结构网络拓扑。我们发现激活额顶系统所需的能量随着发展而下降，而区域能量消耗的模式预示着看不见的个体的大脑成熟。最后，扣带回皮质的能量需求与执行力呈负相关，并部分地介导了高管绩效随着年龄的增长。我们的研究结果揭示了一种机制，通过该机制青春期可以发展结构网络，以减少理论上转变为执行功能所必需的激活状态的能量成本。