From behavioral profiles to neural scaffolds: cortico-striatal integrity predicts longitudinal stability and transition in psychological adaptability during early adulthood.

BACKGROUND

Psychological adaptability hinges on the dynamic balance between cognitive regulation (self-control) and emotional reactivity (impulsivity, reward/punishment sensitivity). However, traditional variable-centered approaches often fail to capture how these traits holistically co-occur, and the neural architectures predicting their longitudinal transitions in early adulthood remain under-explored.

METHODS

This longitudinal study (N = 1,229 baseline; N = 432 2-year follow-up) integrated a person-centered behavioral approach with resting-state fMRI. We employed Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify trait configurations based on self-control, impulsivity, and sensitivity to reward/punishment. Network-Based Statistic (NBS) analysis with family-wise error (FWE) correction was utilized to evaluate functional connectivity differences among groups. Finally, hierarchical regression and formal interaction models were conducted to test the prospective predictive validity of the identified neural circuits.

RESULTS

LPA delineated three distinct baseline profiles: Adaptive, Moderate, and Maladaptive. NBS analysis revealed that the 'Adaptive' profile is underpinned by robust cortico-striatal functional connectivity, integrating the medial prefrontal cortex and striatum. Longitudinally, initial regression models demonstrated that the baseline integrity of this circuit prospectively predicted behavioral adaptation at the 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, hierarchical regression and formal interaction analyses confirmed that this cortico-striatal circuit provided significant incremental predictive validity - above and beyond massive baseline behavioral stability - specifically in males.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight cortico-striatal integration as a significant, gender-specific prospective predictor of longitudinal adaptation. By bridging person-centered profiling with network neuroscience, this study elucidates the neural correlates supporting future adaptive functioning and psychological resilience during the early adult transition.