Rola sieci istotności w deficytach poznawczych i afektywnych

Wojciech Zajkowski , Kamila Jankowiak-Siuda

Abstract

Network perspective is becoming increasingly popular in the analysis and interpretation of cognitive and affective dysfunctions. To date, neuroimaging studies have identified three core large-scale brain networks, mediating all cognitive functions. These include the default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN) and salience network (SN). The DMN activity mostly dominates during cognitive leisure and self-monitoring functions. CEN activity is strongest during tast engagement and cognitive effort. Salience network plays a crucial role of a dynamic ‘switch’ between DMN and CEN in accordance of salience and cognitive demand. Salience network relates to activity in the anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Dysfunctions involving the SN activity are connected to a wide range of impairments and unadaptive behavior patterns, both in the cognitive and affective domain. Those include: depression, insomnia, narcissism (in the case of SN hyperactivity), chronic pains, and anxiety, high levels of neuroticism, as well as schizophrenia, epilepsy, autism and neurodegenerative diseases (in the case of SN hypoactivity). In the first part of the paper we present the main principles of the brain network paradigm and contrast it with the more traditional modular approach. Afterwards, we describe the interaction model of the core functional brain networks and present current research linking SN related dysfunctions with cognitive and affective impairments.