Resting-State Functional Connectivity Between the Cingulo-Opercular and Default Mode Networks May Explain Socioeconomic Inequalities in Cognitive Development.
Journal of cellular neuroscience January 1, 2025 Shervin Assari, Alexandra Donovan, Golnoush Akhlaghipour et al.
Reduced resting-state functional connectivity between the Cingulo-Opercular Network (CON) and the Default Mode Network (DMN) mediates the link between social determinants and better cognitive performance in youth. In a sample of over 11,000 children aged 9–10 from the ABCD study, stable family structure and greater educational opportunities were associated with improved cognitive outcomes, as measured by standardized NIH toolbox tests. These relationships were mediated by lower CON-DMN connectivity, suggesting a neural mechanism through which social gradients influence cognition.