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Journal article

The role of the salience network in adolescent impulsivity using memory tasks and neuroimaging

Abstract:
Background

This study investigated potential behavioral and neural biomarkers of adolescent impulsivity by analyzing adolescent responses in a memory test and examining task-independent brain connectivity.

Methods

This research utilized immediate and delayed memory tasks, together with a similar distractor memory task (SMT), to examine adolescent impulsivity and its correlation with neural cognitive control strategies. Ninety-five healthy, right-handed teenagers (27 females, average age 14.9 years) participated in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions.

Results

Elevated impulsivity correlates with an increased number of errors during target trials and a higher incidence of false alarms during catch trials. Neural activity and connectivity involving the insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) are significantly associated with behavioral responses and individual impulsivity. Notably, both task-modulated and resting-state (intrinsic) coupling between the insula and locus coeruleus (LC), as well as between the dACC and LC, demonstrate significant positive correlation with impulsivity. These findings indicate that insula-LC and dACC-LC connectivity strength serve as reliable indicators of impulsivity.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the connection between the salience network and the noradrenergic locus coeruleus may function as a consistent neural indicator of impulsivity. Our findings indicate that this method can discern reliable brain biomarkers for impulsivity and can guide interventions aimed at enhancing self-control during adolescence.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1038/s43856-025-01212-y

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Experimental Psychology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5224-817X
More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-9215-1014


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03cpyc314
Grant:
RS-2023-00223559


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Communications Medicine More from this journal
Volume:
5
Issue:
1
Article number:
500
Publication date:
2025-11-27
Acceptance date:
2025-10-21
DOI:
EISSN:
2730-664X
Pmid:
41310178


Language:
English
Pubs id:
2352218
UUID:
uuid_c95e0a8f-e1a1-4199-aebf-843136bfd55d
Local pid:
pubs:2352218
Source identifiers:
W4416758228
Deposit date:
2025-12-19
ARK identifier:

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