Neuroimaging studies often either look at functional activation in response to an explicit task, or functional connectivity (i.e., interregional correlations) during resting-state. Few studies have looked at the intensity of brain activity or its relationship with age, behavior, and language. The current study investigated both intensity (i.e., the Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations, ALFF) and the functional connectivity of spontaneous brain activity during rest and their relationship with age and language. A life-span sample of individuals (N = 152) completed a battery of neuropsychological tests to assess basic cognitive functions and resting-state functional MRI data to assess spontaneous brain activity. Focusing on an extend language network, the mean ALFF and total degree were calculated for this network. We found that increased age was associated with more intense activity (i.e., higher ALFF) but lower within-network connectivity. Additionally, these increases in activity within the language network during resting-state were related to worse language ability, particularly in younger adults, supporting a dedifferentiation account of cognition. Our results support the utility of using resting-state data as an indicator of cognition and support the role of ALFF as a potential biomarker in characterizing the relationships between resting-state brain activity, age, and cognition.

神经影像学研究通常要么着眼于响应明确任务的功能激活，要么着眼于静息状态下的功能连接性（即区域间相关性）。很少有研究关注大脑活动的强度或其与年龄、行为和语言的关系。目前的研究调查了强度（即低频波动幅度，ALFF）和休息期间自发大脑活动的功能连接性以及它们与年龄和语言的关系。一个人的生命周期样本（N = 152）完成了一系列神经心理学测试，以评估基本认知功能和静息状态功能 MRI 数据，以评估自发的大脑活动。以扩展语言网络为重点，计算了该网络的平均 ALFF 和总度数。我们发现，年龄增加与更强烈的活动（即更高的 ALFF）相关，但网络内连接性更低。此外，在静息状态下，语言网络内活动的增加与语言能力较差有关，尤其是在年轻人中，这支持了认知去分化的解释。我们的结果支持使用静息状态数据作为认知指标的效用，并支持 ALFF 作为潜在生物标志物在表征静息状态大脑活动、年龄和认知之间关系的作用。支持认知的去分化说明。我们的结果支持使用静息状态数据作为认知指标的效用，并支持 ALFF 作为潜在生物标志物在表征静息状态大脑活动、年龄和认知之间关系的作用。支持认知的去分化说明。我们的结果支持使用静息状态数据作为认知指标的效用，并支持 ALFF 作为潜在生物标志物在表征静息状态大脑活动、年龄和认知之间关系的作用。