The thalamus has complex connections with the cortex and is involved in various cognitive processes. However, little is known about the age-related changes of thalamo-cortical connections and their relation to cognitive abilities. The present study analysed resting-state functional connectivity between the thalamus and nine cortical functional networks (default mode network (DMN), posterior DMN, left/right executive, dorsal attention, salience, motor, visual and auditory network) in a healthy human sample (N=95, aged 5 to 25 years). Cognitive abilities, including processing speed, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility were assessed using neuropsychological tests. All nine cortical resting state networks showed functional connections to the thalamus at rest, with no effect for sex (p > 0.05). For the motor, visual, auditory, DMN, posterior DMN, salience and dorsal attention network, we found mainly bilateral thalamic projections in the mediodorsal nucleus, pulvinar and in nuclei of the lateral group. For the right and left lateralized executive network, corresponding lateralized thalamic projections were found. Thalamo-cortical connectivity strength showed significant age-related decreases from distinct sub-nuclei of the thalamus to different cortical networks including the visual, DMN, salience and dorsal attention network. Further, connectivity strength of thalamo-cortical networks was associated with cognitive abilities, including processing speed, selective attention and cognitive flexibility. Better cognitive abilities were associated with increased thalamo-cortical connectivity in the pulvinar, mediodorsal, intralaminar, and nuclei from the lateral group. Alterations in the integrity of the thalamo-cortical system seem to be crucial for the development of cognitive abilities during brain maturation.

中文翻译：

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发育过程中丘脑-皮质系统的功能拓扑及其与认知的关系

丘脑与皮层有着复杂的联系，并参与各种认知过程。然而，人们对丘脑-皮质连接的年龄相关变化及其与认知能力的关系知之甚少。本研究分析了健康人类样本中丘脑和九个皮质功能网络（默认模式网络 (DMN)、后部 DMN、左/右执行、背侧注意、显着性、运动、视觉和听觉网络）之间的静息状态功能连接（N=95，年龄 5 至 25 岁）。使用神经心理学测试评估认知能力，包括处理速度、选择性注意力和认知灵活性。所有九个皮质静息状态网络都显示出与静息时丘脑的功能连接，对性别没有影响（p > 0.05）。对于运动、视觉、听觉、DMN、在后 DMN、显着性和背侧注意网络中，我们主要在内侧核、枕叶和外侧组的核中发现双侧丘脑投射。对于左右侧化执行网络，发现了相应的侧化丘脑投影。丘脑-皮质连接强度显示出从丘脑不同亚核到不同皮质网络（包括视觉、DMN、显着性和背侧注意网络）的显着年龄相关性降低。此外，丘脑-皮质网络的连接强度与认知能力相关，包括处理速度、选择性注意力和认知灵活性。更好的认知能力与来自外侧组的丘脑、内侧、椎板内和细胞核中丘脑-皮质连接性的增加有关。