Multimodal Longitudinal Assessment of the Developmental Trajectory of Resting State Connectivity and Neural Oscillatory Dynamics Supporting Executive Function

Author

Jake Son, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow

ORCID ID

0000-0001-6780-9902

Graduation Date

Spring 5-10-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Programs

Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences

First Advisor

Tony W Wilson

Second Advisor

Soonjo Hwang

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders are the most prevalent debilitating illnesses across the lifespan. Importantly, epidemiologic studies indicate that 75% of all diagnosable psychiatric disorders begin prior to age 24, highlighting the need for investigations of the developing brain. A critical mission of developmental cognitive neuroscience is to characterize normative developmental trajectories of neural physiology, alongside the adoption of dimensional models to mitigate longstanding categorical representations of neurotypical and atypical (i.e., psychiatric diagnoses) development. This dissertation harnesses the complementary strengths of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to better characterize longitudinal trajectories of neurodevelopment. Specifically, in Chapter 1 we identified the relationship between subclinical levels of trauma-related symptomatology and longitudinal trajectories of resting-state fMRI connectivity, highlighting the importance of investigations across subclinical levels of symptomatology in normative samples, prior to achieving diagnostic levels. In Chapter 2, we identify relationships between a biological measure of age (i.e., pubertal timing) and longitudinal changes in neural oscillatory dynamics supporting executive function, above and beyond the effects of chronological age. Finally, in Chapter 3 we assess sexually dimorphic relationships between salivary testosterone measures and trajectories of oscillatory activity in brain regions that are critical for executive function. Overall, these novel results enhance the characterization of neurodevelopmental trajectories and may enhance future diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of mental health disorders that emerge during childhood and adolescence.

Comments

2025 Copyright, the authors

Recommended Citation

Son, Jake, "Multimodal Longitudinal Assessment of the Developmental Trajectory of Resting State Connectivity and Neural Oscillatory Dynamics Supporting Executive Function" (2025). Theses & Dissertations. 906.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/etd/906