Executive function is a cognitive domain that typically declines in non-pathological aging. Two cognitive control networks that are vulnerable to aging—the cingulo-opercular (CON) and fronto-parietal control (FPCN) networks—play a role in various aspects of executive functioning. However, it is unclear how communication within these networks at rest relates to executive function subcomponents in older adults. This study examines the associations between CON and FPCN connectivity and executive function performance in 274 older adults across working memory, inhibition, and set-shifting tasks. Average CON connectivity was associated with better working memory, inhibition, and set-shifting performance, while average FPCN connectivity was associated solely with working memory. CON region of interest analyses revealed significant connections with classical hub regions (i.e., anterior cingulate and anterior insula) for each task, language regions for verbal working memory, right hemisphere dominance for inhibitory control, and widespread network connections for set-shifting. FPCN region of interest analyses revealed largely right hemisphere fronto-parietal connections important for working memory and a few temporal lobe connections for set-shifting. These findings characterize differential brain-behavior relationships between cognitive control networks and executive function in aging. Future research should target these networks for intervention to potentially attenuate executive function decline in older adults.

执行功能是一个认知领域，通常在非病理性衰老中下降。两个容易受到衰老影响的认知控制网络——扣带盖骨（CON）和额顶叶控制（FPCN）网络——在执行功能的各个方面发挥着作用。然而，目前尚不清楚这些网络在休息时的沟通如何与老年人的执行功能子组件相关。本研究考察了 274 名老年人的 CON 和 FPCN 连接与执行功能表现之间的关联，涉及工作记忆、抑制和设定转换任务。平均 CON 连接性与更好的工作记忆、抑制和设定转换性能相关，而平均 FPCN 连接性仅与工作记忆相关。CON 感兴趣区域分析揭示了与每项任务的经典中枢区域（即前扣带回和前岛叶）、语言工作记忆的语言区域、抑制控制的右半球优势以及设定转换的广泛网络连接的显着联系。FPCN 感兴趣区域分析揭示了大部分右半球额顶连接对工作记忆很重要，以及一些颞叶连接对设定转换很重要。这些发现描述了衰老过程中认知控制网络和执行功能之间大脑行为差异的关系。未来的研究应该针对这些网络进行干预，以潜在地减轻老年人执行功能的下降。