MAC-Net: A Multi-Task Deep Learning Framework for Modeling Cognitive Function From Task-Based fMRI

arXiv:2609.33440v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Objective cognitive assessment from neural signals supports neurorehabilitation, but individual-level prediction from task-based fMRI (tfMRI) remains difficult because neural features coexist with substantial demographic and scanner-related variation. We present the Multi-task Activation and Contrast Network (MAC-Net), a covariate-aware deep learning framework for modeling individual cognitive function from regional tfMRI. By isolating tfMRI features into a dedicated neural pathway and restricting participant variables to a terminal late-fusion pathway, MAC-Net prevents dominant covariates from suppressing high-dimensional clinical representations during feature learning. Evaluating baseline data from 6,500 Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study participants under family-aware cross-validation, MAC-Net was benchmarked against linear models, random forests, and alternative deep architectures. The N-back plus Monetary Incentive Delay configuration achieved $R^{2}$ values of 0.174, 0.238, and 0.277 for fluid, crystallized, and total cognition, outperforming covariate-only baselines (0.178) and alternative deep models (0.217). N-back was the most informative paradigm, whereas incorporating the Stop Signal Task marginally degraded performance. Feature attributions via Integrated Gradients, DeepLIFT, and Input Gradient were highly concordant, localizing working-memory-related frontal, parietal, and cingulate regions. These findings demonstrate that covariate-aware multi-task modeling yields reproducible cognitive-function estimations, establishing a robust neural engineering framework for clinical translation.

Abstract:Objective cognitive assessment from neural signals supports neurorehabilitation, but individual-level prediction from task-based fMRI (tfMRI) remains difficult because neural features coexist with substantial demographic and scanner-related variation. We present the Multi-task Activation and Contrast Network (MAC-Net), a covariate-aware deep learning framework for modeling individual cognitive function from regional tfMRI. By isolating tfMRI features into a dedicated neural pathway and restricting participant variables to a terminal late-fusion pathway, MAC-Net prevents dominant covariates from suppressing high-dimensional clinical representations during feature learning. Evaluating baseline data from 6,500 Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study participants under family-aware cross-validation, MAC-Net was benchmarked against linear models, random forests, and alternative deep architectures. The N-back plus Monetary Incentive Delay configuration achieved $R^{2}$ values of 0.174, 0.238, and 0.277 for fluid, crystallized, and total cognition, outperforming covariate-only baselines (0.178) and alternative deep models (0.217). N-back was the most informative paradigm, whereas incorporating the Stop Signal Task marginally degraded performance. Feature attributions via Integrated Gradients, DeepLIFT, and Input Gradient were highly concordant, localizing working-memory-related frontal, parietal, and cingulate regions. These findings demonstrate that covariate-aware multi-task modeling yields reproducible cognitive-function estimations, establishing a robust neural engineering framework for clinical translation.

13 pages, 4 figures, 2 supplementary tables. This work has been submitted to the IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering for possible publication

Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)

arXiv:2609.33440 [cs.AI]

(or arXiv:2609.33440v1 [cs.AI] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.33440 arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

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MAC-Net: A Multi-Task Deep Learning Framework for Modeling Cognitive Function From Task-Based fMRI

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