Resting-state EEG networks predict individual differences in cognitive flexibility

Cognitive flexibility, the ability to adapt behavior and switch between tasks in response to changing goals, is a core component of executive function. However, the multiscale resting-state mechanisms underlying individual differences remain poorly understood. Here, resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) from 128 healthy participants (66 male; age 18-35 years) was analyzed to characterize frequency-specific connectivity and network topology. Results show that, delta-band fronto-temporal connectivity and associated graph metrics associated with repeat task performance, whereas beta-band fronto-parietal, fronto-occipital, and prefronto-frontal connections associated with shift task performance. Individuals with low switching costs exhibited stronger intra- and inter-hemispheric alpha-, beta-, and gamma-band connectivity, which were associated with more efficient cognitive flexibility. Multivariate models using connectivity features reliably predicted repeat RT and shift RT. Together, these findings indicate that hierarchical, frequency-specific resting-state networks constitute core neural mechanisms of cognitive flexibility and highlight the potential for resting-state EEG networks to account for individual differences in executive function.