Structural-functional brain network coupling during cognitive demand reveals intelligence-relevant communication strategies

Abstract

Intelligence is a broad mental capability influencing human performance across tasks. Individual differences in intelligence have been linked to characteristics of structural and functional brain networks. Here, we consider their alignment, the structural-functional brain network coupling (SC-FC coupling) during resting state and during active cognition, to predict general intelligence. Using diffusion-weighted and functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 764 participants of the Human Connectome Project (replication: N1 = 126, N2 = 180), we model SC-FC coupling with similarity and communication measures that capture functional interactions unfolding on top of structural brain networks..