Process-Specific Alliances (PSAs) in Cognitive Neuroscience

Roberto Cabeza; Matthew L Stanley; Morris Moscovitch

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2018.08.005

Process-Specific Alliances (PSAs) in Cognitive Neuroscience

Trends Cogn Sci. 2018 Nov;22(11):996-1010. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.08.005. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Authors

Roberto Cabeza¹, Matthew L Stanley², Morris Moscovitch³

Affiliations

¹ Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: cabeza@duke.edu.
² Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
³ Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, North York, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Most cognitive neuroscience theories have focused on the functions of individual brain regions, but cognitive abilities depend also on functional interactions among multiple regions. Many recent studies on these interactions have examined large-scale, resting-state networks, but these networks are difficult to link to theories about specific cognitive processes. Cognitive theories are easier to link to the mini-networks we call process specific alliances (PSAs). A PSA is a small team of brain regions that rapidly assemble to mediate a cognitive process in response to task demands but quickly disassemble when the process is no longer needed. We compare PSAs to resting-state networks and to other connectivity-based, task-related networks, and we characterize the advantages and disadvantages of each type of network.

Keywords: cognition; fMRI; function; networks; process.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Brain / physiology*
Cognition / physiology*
Cognitive Neuroscience*
Connectome*
Humans
Nerve Net / physiology*

Grants and funding

R01 AG019731/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States