Cognitive control enables individuals to adapt to the ever-changing environmental demands. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) are key regions of the cognitive control network, activated during cognitively demanding tasks. In contrast, the entertaining and habitual nature of short-video consumption for leisure shifts neural processing toward emotional engagement and immediate gratification, contributing to excessive use and diminished self-control in some individuals. This raises a critical question: Does short-video viewing suppress cognitive control regions, and what neurochemical factors may underlie individual differences in this process? To address this question, this preregistered study used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to measure glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in the dACC at rest, and employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine dACC and dlPFC activity during free viewing of short videos in 56 young adults. We found that both the dACC and the dlPFC exhibited significant deactivation in response to preferred videos that were watched to completion, compared to less-preferred videos that were terminated early. Moreover, resting-state glutamate levels in the dACC were associated with the magnitude of this deactivation, with higher glutamate concentrations associated with less suppression of both dACC and dlPFC activity. Additionally, functional connectivity between the dACC and dlPFC increased during video viewing, particularly for preferred videos. By integrating fMRI with 1H-MRS, our study provides novel evidence that immersive viewing of preferred short videos deactivates the cognitive control network and that individual differences in this deactivation are linked to glutamate metabolism. These findings enhance our understanding of how digital media consumption interacts with neurochemical processes to influence self-regulation. Our study offers new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying short-video engagement and has implications for understanding excessive digital media use.

Personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting holds promise for improving depression treatment, but its clinical translation is hindered by limited open-source implementation and systematic comparisons of target reproducibility and clinical relevance. We implemented two leading personalized TMS-target generating approaches, namely refined seed-based (RSA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA) algorithms, and compared them on (1) test-retest reliability of derived targets, and (2) association of target-sgACC connectivity with depressive symptoms. Using resting-state fMRI data from healthy and depressed individuals, spatial reliability was quantified via inter-run Euclidean distances, and clinical relevance was assessed through correlations between depression severity and functional connectivity of targets with sgACC. Effects of global signal regression (GSR) were also evaluated. The results showed that RSA produced targets in more superior and postrior part of DLPFC and demonstrated significantly higher test-retest reliability than HCA (smaller inter-run Euclidean distances). Further, RSA-derived target-sgACC connectivity correlated positively with depression severity, which was absent in HCA-derived targets. In addition, GSR improved spatial reliability for RSA but not HCA. Our results indicate that RSA exhibits superior test-retest reliability and symptom association compared to HCA, yet large-scale clinical trials are warranted to determine which approach yields superior therapeutic efficacy, and open-sourced implementation may accelerate clinical adoption.

As short-form video platforms continue to expand, excessive short-form video use poses a potential threat to cognitive and behavioral regulation. Previous studies have predominantly employed questionnaires and self-report measures to examine the association between excessive short-form video consumption and trait self-control, while overlooking individuals’ state-level inhibitory control when watching short-form videos. The present study addressed this gap through three integrated studies. Study 1 established that both daily viewing time and overuse severity are negatively correlated with trait self-control. Study 2 employed a classical Go/No-Go paradigm, revealing that individuals with high short-form video dependence exhibit significant deficits in attentional and inhibitory control, characterized by longer reaction times, greater variability in reaction times, lower accuracy of go trials, and reduced sensitivity (d’). Study 3 incorporated short-form video contexts into the Go/No-Go paradigm to test contextual effects. Results demonstrated a generalized performance decline under the video condition, with the high-dependency group exhibiting disproportionately greater impairments in d’, reaction times and reaction time variability. By unveiling how digital environments capture cognitive resources, this research highlights a vicious cycle of self-regulation failure, suggesting that effective recovery from short-form video dependence requires addressing both stable personality traits and situational cognitive vulnerabilities.

Reward learning is fundamental to adaptive behavior and exhibits substantial individual variability linked to addiction and other psychiatric conditions. Traditional value-driven attentional capture (VDAC) paradigms rely mainly on reaction time (RT) and accuracy, but it remains unknown whether engaging motor control processes could enhance sensitivity for detecting individual differences in reward-induced attentional biases. We developed a novel mouse-tracking VDAC paradigm that engages motor control processes. Two independent samples (n1 = 45, n2 = 59) completed the task and a battery of reward-related psychological scales (reward sensitivity, impulsivity, self-control, digital addiction tendency). A new index, maximum deviation (MD) of mouse trajectories, quantified how reward history biases attention and motor response. The paradigm replicated the classic RT-based VDAC effect. Trajectory-based measures revealed bidirectional effects: high-value distractors increased attraction and reduced active avoidance. The relative angle modulated VDAC strength, with the largest effect at 120°. ΔMD (high-value vs. absent) showed significant positive correlations with reward sensitivity, impulsivity, and addiction tendency, and negative correlations with self-control in both samples, whereas ΔRT showed no significant correlations. The consistent pattern across two independent samples suggests that mouse-tracking provides a complementary, process-sensitive index for detecting individual differences in reward-driven attention. This paradigm may serve as a useful tool for investigating cognitive markers of vulnerability to reward-related disorders, including addiction.

Recently, the widespread use of computers to support collaborative learning has introduced a new challenge for children, as they coordinate their cognitive resources to interact simultaneously with both the computer and their peers. However, there are lack of studies to investigate whether individual cognitive ability, such as working memory, can predict computer-supported collaborative performance in a group. This study examined whether children’s working memory predicts collaborative performance during pair programming and whether children’s working memory and collaborative performance predict learning outcomes. Participants were 115 children aged 6–10 years. Children’s working memory capacity and coding ability were assessed, and they engaged in pair programming lessons. All lessons were recorded, and the videos were analyzed using the collaborative performance assessment framework, focusing on attentional states, emotional states, and interactive behaviors. The results indicated that children’s working memory significantly predicted collaborative performance in a pair programming environment through its interaction with their mate’s working memory, including task-related attention and joint attention. Specifically, for children with higher working memory capacity, being paired with a mate who also had a high working memory capacity was associated with higher levels of task-related attention and joint attention. In addition, children’s individual working memory capacity significantly and positively predicted neutral emotions. Furthermore, task-related attention and peer observation behaviors during pair programming were linked to fewer debugging behaviors. These findings suggest that collaborative performance is influenced by the interaction between children’s working memory capacity and their mate’s working memory capacity. Additionally, collaborative performance observed during pair programming appears to have an impact on learning outcomes. Accordingly, the current study suggests that grouping children based on their working memory capacity is important for enhancing collaborative performance in computer-based collaborative learning contexts such as pair programming.

Meditation practice has been associated with changes in EEG oscillatory activity, although findings across studies remain heterogeneous. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined frequency-specific EEG patterns associated with meditation practice. Frequency-specific random-effects meta-analyses and multilevel nested mixed-effects meta-regression models were used to account for the non-independence of multiple effect sizes within studies. Significant positive pooled effects were observed for alpha, beta, and gamma oscillations, whereas no significant pooled effect was observed for theta oscillations. The primary multilevel meta-regression identified measurement state as a significant moderator, with larger effects observed for Meditation relative to Rest. However, a sensitivity analysis excluding Interaction category (Group × State interaction effects) effect sizes indicated that this finding was not robust and should be interpreted cautiously. In contrast, meditation type, practitioner expertise, and EEG frequency band were not significant moderators. Exploratory analyses indicated a modest positive association between practice duration and theta-band effect sizes; however, this finding should be interpreted cautiously given the uneven distribution of practice-duration data and the predominance of cross-sectional evidence. Overall, the findings suggest substantial heterogeneity in meditation-related EEG effects, highlighting the influence of methodological differences across studies and the need for cautious interpretation of apparent measurement-state effects. More standardized longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to clarify the temporal and practice-related dynamics of EEG oscillatory changes.

The burgeoning user base and potential negative effects of excessive involvement in gaming, particularly Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), demand significant attention. While existing research has explored the susceptibility of individuals with IGD to game-related stimuli, the question of why it is challenging for these individuals to disengage from gaming remains under-explored. Drawing parallels with the concept of interruption, we hypothesize that negative emotions triggered during gaming interruptions would drive individuals’ craving for the game and compelling them to continue playing, reinforcing the IGD cycle. In this study, 42 male ‘League of Legends’ players, aged 19 to 29, experienced controlled interruptions every 3 min during gaming and non-gaming control tasks. Our findings demonstrate that interruptions during gaming elicited significantly higher levels of anger and anxiety compared to the control tasks. Further, we found a positive correlation between the severity of IGD symptoms and the intensity of anger and anxiety induced by gaming interruptions. Additionally, our analysis suggests that craving partially mediates the relationship between anger arousal during gaming interruptions and IGD severity. These findings provide new insights into how emotional responses to gaming interruptions contribute to IGD, offering a novel perspective for future research and potential treatment approaches.

This study investigates the effect of cognitive control strategies on young children’s emotional and attentional states during coding learning. We conducted a quasi-experimental study with 46 children aged 5–6 years, dividing them into an experimental group using cognitive control strategies (planning, monitoring, reflecting) and a control group without these strategies. Video recordings from three lessons, representing the early, middle, and late stages of the coding course provided to the two groups, were analyzed to assess attention and emotion every three seconds. High-resolution data analyses indicated that cognitive control strategies helped children maintain attention and remain in a neutral emotional state during learning activities with good ecological validity. Additionally, cognitive control strategies enhanced learning outcomes, which were significantly related to attention measured during learning. These findings suggest that integrating cognitive control strategies in early education can improve attention, emotional regulation, and learning outcomes.

The emergence of source memory is an important milestone during memory development. Decades of research has explored neural correlates of source memory using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, connections between findings from the two approaches, particularly within children, remain unclear. This study identified fMRI-informed cortical sources of two EEG signals during memory encoding, the P2 and the late slow wave (LSW), that predicted subsequent source memory performance in a sample of children aged 4 to 8 years. Both P2 and LSW were source localized to cortical areas of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), reflecting MTL’s crucial role in both early-stage information processing and late-stage integration of memory, and validating LSW’s suspected role in memory updating. The P2 effect was localized to all six tested subregions of cortical MTL in both left and right hemispheres, whereas the LSW effect was only localized to the parahippocampal cortex and entorhinal cortex. P2 was additionally localized to multiple areas in the frontoparietal network, suggesting interactions between memory encoding and other cognitive functions. These results reflect the importance and potential of considering both spatial and temporal aspects of neural activity to decode memory mechanisms, paving the way for future developmental research.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is increasingly recognized as a public concern for its adverse impacts on cognition and mental health. In IGD, the transition from goal-directed actions to habitual and eventually compulsive behaviors is accompanied by altered neural response within the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), a critical region involved in conscious actions. However, the neurochemical profile of the dACC in IGD and its relationship with behavioral awareness remain poorly understood. In this study, 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to quantify dACC glutamate concentration and examine its association with the capacity for ‘acting with awareness’ among 21 participants with IGD and 19 recreational game users. Results indicated that dACC glutamate levels and behavioral awareness were significantly lower in the IGD group compared to recreational game users. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between awareness and dACC glutamate concentration emerged in the recreational game users’ group, a relationship attenuated in those with IGD. In an independent cohort of 107 participants, the positive association between awareness and dACC glutamate concentration was replicated. These findings suggest that reduced dACC glutamate in IGD may underlie diminished awareness of maladaptive habitual behaviors. Enhancing dACC neural excitability through neuromodulation or mindfulness training could represent a potential intervention to restore behavioral awareness.

Excessive use of the internet, which is a typical scenario of self-control failure, could lead to potential consequences such as anxiety, depression, and diminished academic performance. However, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the structural basis of self-control and internet addiction. In a cohort of 96 internet gamers, we examined the relationships among grey matter volume and white matter integrity within the frontostriatal circuits and internet addiction severity, as well as self-control measures. The results showed a significant and negative correlation between dACC grey matter volume and internet addiction severity (p < 0.001), but not with self-control. Subsequent tractography from the dACC to the bilateral ventral striatum (VS) was conducted. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity of dACC-right VS pathway was negatively (p = 0.011) and positively (p = 0.020) correlated with internet addiction severity, respectively, and the FA was also positively correlated with self-control (p = 0.036). These associations were not observed for the dACC-left VS pathway. Further mediation analysis demonstrated a significant complete mediation effect of self-control on the relationship between FA of the dACC-right VS pathway and internet addiction severity. Our findings suggest that the dACC-right VS pathway is a critical neural substrate for both internet addiction and self-control. Deficits in this pathway may lead to impaired self-regulation over internet usage, exacerbating the severity of internet addiction.

Abacus-based mental calculation (AMC) is a widely used educational tool for enhancing math learning, offering an accessible and cost-effective method for classroom implementation. Despite its universal appeal, the neurocognitive mechanisms that drive the efficacy of AMC training remain poorly understood. Notably, although abacus training relies heavily on the rapid recall of number positions and sequences, the role of memory systems in driving long-term AMC learning remains unknown. Here, we sought to address this gap by investigating the role of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) memory system in predicting long-term AMC training gains in second-grade children, who were longitudinally assessed up to fifth grade. Leveraging multimodal neuroimaging data, we tested the hypothesis that MTL systems, known for their involvement in associative memory, are instrumental in facilitating AMC-induced improvements in math skills. We found that gray matter volume in bilateral MTL, along with functional connectivity between the MTL and frontal and ventral temporal-occipital cortices, significantly predicted learning gains. Intriguingly, greater gray matter volume but weaker connectivity of the posterior parietal cortex predicted better learning outcomes, offering a more nuanced view of brain systems at play in AMC training. Our findings not only underscore the critical role of the MTL memory system in AMC training but also illuminate the neurobiological factors contributing to individual differences in cognitive skill acquisition. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/StVooNRc7T8. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: We investigated the role of medial temporal lobe (MTL) memory system in driving children's math learning following abacus-based mental calculation (AMC) training. AMC training improved math skills in elementary school children across their second and fifth grade. MTL structural integrity and functional connectivity with prefrontal and ventral temporal-occipital cortices predicted long-term AMC training-related gains.

In both preclinical and clinical settings, dysregulated frontostriatal circuits have been identified as the underlying neural substrates of compulsive seeking/taking behaviors manifested in substance use disorders and behavioral addictions including internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, the neurochemical substrates for these disorders remain elusive. The lack of comprehensive cognitive assessments in animal models has hampered our understanding of neural plasticity in addiction from these models. In this study, combining data from a rat model of compulsive taking/seeking and human participants with various levels of IGD severity, we investigated the relationship between regional glutamate (Glu) concentration and addictive behaviors. We found that Glu levels were significantly lower in the prelimbic cortex (PrL) of rats after 20-days of methamphetamine self-administration (SA), compared to controls. Glu concentration after a punishment phase negatively correlated with acute drug-seeking behavior. In addition, changes in Glu levels from a drug naïve state to compulsive drug taking patterns negatively correlated with drug-seeking during both acute and prolonged abstinence. The human data revealed a significant negative correlation between Glu concentration in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), the human PrL counterpart, and symptoms of IGD. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between Glu levels in the dACC and self-control, as well as mindful awareness. Further analysis revealed that the dACC Glu concentration mediated the relationship between self-control/mindful awareness and IGD symptoms. These results provide convergent evidence for a protective role of dACC/PrL in addiction, suggesting interventions to enhance dACC glutamatergic functions as a potential strategy for addiction prevention and treatment.

Creativity, a high-order cognitive ability, has received wide attention from researchers and educators who are dedicated to promoting its development throughout one's lifespan. Currently, creativity is commonly assessed with divergent thinking tasks, such as the Alternative Uses Task. Recent advancements in neuroimaging techniques have enabled the identification of brain markers for high-order cognitive abilities. One such brain structure of interest in this regard is the hippocampus, which has been found to play an important role in generating creative thoughts in adulthood. However, such role of the hippocampus in childhood is not clear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the associations between creativity, as measured by divergent thinking, and both the volume of the hippocampus and its resting-state functional connectivity in 116 children aged 8-12 years. The results indicate significant relations between divergent thinking and the volume of the hippocampal head and the hippocampal tail, as well as the volume of a subfield comprising cornu ammonis 2-4 and dentate gyrus within the hippocampal body. Additionally, divergent thinking was significantly related to the differences between the anterior and the posterior hippocampus in their functional connectivity to other brain regions during rest. These results suggest that these two subregions may collaborate with different brain regions to support diverse cognitive processes involved in the generation of creative thoughts. In summary, these findings indicate that divergent thinking is significantly related to the structural and functional characteristics of the hippocampus, offering potential insights into the brain markers for creativity during the developmental stage.

Coding learning can promote the development of computational thinking (CT) in young children. The effect of coding learning on CT may vary between different cultures. However, it lacks studies to evaluate the effect of coding learning on the various dimensions of CT in young Chinese children. To provide insight into this question, we recruited children aged 5–6 years to participate in the quasi-experimental study involving an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group learned collaboration- and robot-based coding for 12 lessons, whereas children in the control group attended school learning activities. The two groups showed significant changes in CT concepts after coding learning, but the changes were not different between the two groups. In addition, coding learning positively influenced the development of CT practices, including algorithm and debugging skills. Finally, qualitative analyses showed that children could express, connect, and question after learning coding, suggesting that coding learning benefits the development of CT perspectives. To summarize, coding learning positively influences the ability to apply coding concepts to solve problems in practice and the perspectives about themselves and the world around them.

The recent surge in short-video application usage has raised concerns about potential mental health risks. Using a novel video-watching task, we investigated the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying self-control during short-video viewing from a dual-system perspective. Results revealed watching preferred videos significantly activated the amygdala (System I) and deactivated the control regions (System II), with individuals with lower trait self-control being suppressed more. Dynamic causal modelling revealed the amygdala inhibited control regions during preferred viewing, while control regions downregulated the amygdala during less-preferred viewing. The control regions also demonstrated enhanced activation during cognitive control and inner-state monitoring tasks, with the latter correlating with trait self-control. These findings suggest preference-based video-watching suppresses prefrontal areas that represent rules and support self-awareness, enabling bottom-up limbic processes to dominate attention. This study provides insights into the neuropsychological impacts of short-video applications use, informing policies and interventions to promote healthier technology use and mitigate potential adverse effects.

Working memory (WM) is essential for cognition, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. From a hierarchical processing perspective, this paper proposed and tested a hypothesis that a domain-general network at the top of the WM hierarchy can interact with distinct domain-preferential intermediate circuits to support WM. Employing a novel N-back task, we first identified the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG), middle temporal area (MT), and postcentral gyrus (PoCG) as intermediate regions for biological motion and shape motion processing, respectively. Using further psychophysiological interaction analyses, we delineated a frontal-parietal network (FPN) as the domain-general network. These results were further verified and extended by a delayed match to sample (DMS) task. Although the WM load-dependent and stimulus-free activations during the DMS delay phase confirm the role of FPN as a domain-general network to maintain information, the stimulus-dependent activations within this network during the DMS encoding phase suggest its involvement in the final stage of the hierarchical processing chains. In contrast, the load-dependent activations of intermediate regions in the N-back task highlight their further roles beyond perception in WM tasks. These results provide empirical evidence for a hierarchical processing model of WM and may have significant implications for WM training.

Worldwide iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are the single most prevalent nutritional deficiency disorders,particularly in pregnant women and preschool age groups.Early life is a critical period of rapid brain development and numerous studies have found that iron deficiency during this period affects children’s sensory-motor,cognitive-verbal,and socio-emotional development through changes in brain structure,neurochemical and transmitter systems.Although iron supplementation during infancy can correct iron deficiency,and the brain has some plasticity and adaptation resiliency,these cannot compensate for the long-term damage to brain development caused by early iron deficiency.New research advances suggest that there are critical periods of dependence on iron for early brain development,and that iron deficiency at different times in early life can have different effects on short and long term brain development.This paper highlights the importance of early prevention of iron deficiency and the urgent need to investigate the mechanisms of impaired brain development in depth and develop appropriate cognitive interventions.

The rapid progress of 21st-century technology has made computational thinking (CT) a crucial skill. However, challenges arise in promoting and evaluating CT due to a limited understanding of its cognitive foundations. To address this gap, this study built upon prior CT definitions, theories, and practices, proposing that the cognitive nature of CT involves problem-solving through the application of cognitive control to process hierarchical operations, embodying its computing characteristic. To examine this claim, we conducted interdisciplinary research that integrates techniques and methods from the fields of education, cognition, and neuroscience. Participants’ brain activities were recorded as they performed a coding comprehension task, which comprised embedded and sequential conditions differing solely in terms of hierarchical complexity. We recruited two distinct samples to exclude the influence of prior coding experience. The results indicate that the processing of commands in embedded conditions, compared to sequential conditions, elicited greater sustained and transient activation at brain regions within cognitive control networks. These findings suggest an enhanced involvement of proactive and reactive cognitive control to maintain and update complex hierarchical operations inherent in CT problem-solving. The implications of these findings are profound for measuring and cultivating CT skills across the lifespan.

Background Early iron deficiency (ID) is a common risk factor for poorer neurodevelopment, limiting children’s potential and contributing to global burden. However, it is unclear how early ID alters the substrate of brain functions supporting high-order cognitive abilities and whether the timing of early ID matters in terms of long-term brain development. This study aimed to examine the effects of ID during fetal or early postnatal periods on brain activities supporting proactive and reactive cognitive control in pre-adolescent children. Methods Participants were part of a longitudinal cohort enrolled at birth in southeastern China between December 2008 and November 2011. Between July 2019 and October 2021, 115 children aged 8–11 years were invited to participate in this neuroimaging study. Final analyses included 71 children: 20 with fetal ID, 24 with ID at 9 months (postnatal ID), and 27 iron-sufficient at birth and 9 months. Participants performed a computer-based behavioral task in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner to measure proactive and reactive cognitive control. Outcome measures included accuracy, reaction times, and brain activity. Linear mixed modeling and the 3dlme command in Analysis of Functional NeuroImages (AFNI) were separately used to analyze behavioral performance and neuroimaging data. Results Faster responses in proactive vs. reactive conditions indicated that all groups could use proactive or reactive cognitive control according to contextual demands. However, the fetal ID group was lower in general accuracy than the other 2 groups. Per the demands of cues and targets, the iron-sufficient group showed greater activation of wide brain regions in proactive vs. reactive conditions. In contrast, such condition differences were reversed in the postnatal ID group. Condition differences in brain activation, shown in postnatal ID and iron-sufficient groups, were not found in the fetal ID group. This group specifically showed greater activation of brain regions in the reward pathway in proactive vs. reactive conditions. Conclusions Early ID was associated with altered brain functions supporting proactive and reactive cognitive control in childhood. Alterations differed between fetal and postnatal ID groups. The findings imply that iron supplement alone is insufficient to prevent persisting brain alterations associated with early ID. Intervention strategies in addition to the iron supplement should consider ID timing.