1
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Wang M, Nie QY. A computational account of conflict processing during mental imagery. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2024:10.3758/s13415-024-01201-z. [PMID: 39085587 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-024-01201-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies examining conflict processing within the context of a color-word Stroop task have focused on both stimulus and response conflicts. However, it has been unclear whether conflict can emerge independently of stimulus conflict. In this study, a novel arrow-gaze mental-rotation Stroop task was introduced to explore the interplay between conflict processing and mental rotation. A modelling approach was utilized to provide a process-level account of the findings. The results of our Stroop task indicate that conflict can emerge from mental rotation in the absence of stimulus conflict. The strength of this imagery conflict effect decreases and even reverses as mental rotation angles increase. Additionally, it was observed that participants responded more quickly and with greater accuracy to small rather than large face orientations. A comparison of three conflict diffusion models-the diffusion model for conflict tasks (DMC), the dual-stage two-phase model (DSTP), and the shrinking spotlight model (SSP)-yielded consistent support for the DSTP over the DMC and SSP in the majority of instances. The DSTP account of the experimental results revealed an increased nondecision time with increasing mental rotation, a reduction in interference from incompatible stimuli, and an improved drift rate in response selection phase, which suggests enhanced cognitive control. The findings from the model-based analysis provide evidence for a novel interaction between cognitive control and mental rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiao Wang
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
| | - Qi-Yang Nie
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau.
- Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau.
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2
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Su R, Jia S, Zhang N, Wang Y, Li H, Zhang D, Ma H, Su Y. The effects of long-term high-altitude exposure on cognition: A meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105682. [PMID: 38642865 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Long-term high altitudes (HA) exposure's impact on cognition has yielded inconsistent findings in previous research. To address this, we conducted a meta-analysis of 49 studies (6191 individuals) to comprehensively evaluate this effect. Moderating factors such as cognitive task type, altitude (1500-2500 m, 2500-4000 m, and above 4000 m), residential type (chronic and lifelong), adaptation level and demographic factors were analyzed. Cognitive tasks were classified into eight categories: perceptual processes, psychomotor function, long-term memory, working memory, inhibitory control, problem-solving, language, and others. Results revealed a moderate negative effect of HA on cognitive performance (g = -.40, SE =.18, 95% CI = -.76 to -.05). Psychomotor function and long-term memory notably experience the most pronounced decline, while working memory and language skills show moderate decreases due to HA exposure. However, perceptual processes, inhibitory control, and problem-solving abilities remain unaffected. Moreover, residing at altitudes above 4000 m and being a HA immigrant are associated with significant cognitive impairment. In summary, our findings indicate a selective adaptation of cognitive performance to HA conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Su
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of High Altitudes Brain Science and Environmental Acclimation, Tibet University, Lhasa 85000, China
| | - Shurong Jia
- Key Laboratory of High Altitudes Brain Science and Environmental Acclimation, Tibet University, Lhasa 85000, China
| | - Niannian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of High Altitudes Brain Science and Environmental Acclimation, Tibet University, Lhasa 85000, China
| | - Yiyi Wang
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of High Altitudes Brain Science and Environmental Acclimation, Tibet University, Lhasa 85000, China
| | - Delong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of High Altitudes Brain Science and Environmental Acclimation, Tibet University, Lhasa 85000, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hailin Ma
- Key Laboratory of High Altitudes Brain Science and Environmental Acclimation, Tibet University, Lhasa 85000, China
| | - Yanjie Su
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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3
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Hou J, Wang C, Jia L, Ma H. Long-term exposure to high altitude reduces alpha and beta bands event-related desynchronization in a Go/NoGo task. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19719. [PMID: 37957177 PMCID: PMC10643632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45807-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 80 million people worldwide permanently live at high altitudes, and living in such a hypoxic environment can impair cognitive functions. However, it is largely unknown how long-term exposure to high altitude affects neural oscillations underlying these cognitive functions. The present study employed a Go/NoGo task to investigate the effects of long-term exposure to high altitude on neural oscillations during cognitive control. We compared event-related spectral perturbations between the low-altitude and high-altitude groups, and the results revealed increased theta event-related synchronization (ERS) and decreased alpha and beta event-related desynchronizations (ERDs) during the NoGo condition compared to the Go condition. Importantly, the high-altitude group showed reduced alpha and beta ERDs compared to the low-altitude group, while the theta ERS was not affected by altitude. We suggest that long-term exposure to high altitude has an impact on top-down inhibitory control and movement preparation and execution in the Go/NoGo task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmin Hou
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
- Intelligent Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
- Intelligent Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Jia
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
- Intelligent Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hailin Ma
- Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China.
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Li X, Ma H, Ding X, Jiang H, Zhang X. Impaired Neurological Activity in the Mental Rotation Ability of Tibetan Indigenous Residents After Chronic Exposure to High Altitude. Neuroscience 2023; 532:1-13. [PMID: 37739028 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Mental rotation is a core indicator of spatial ability, and a threshold for cognitive impairment may exist at approximately 4,000 m above sea level, but the specific thresholds for the severity of hypoxia in Tibetan indigenous populations in mental rotation ability remain largely unknown. To determine whether a threshold for mental rotation impairment exists in indigenous residents, we related a mental rotation task to inter-individual differences in a range of behavioral performance and neuropsychological characteristics across 51 indigenous Tibetan highlanders and 34 matched controls at three different altitudes (sea level, 2,900 m, and 4,200 m). Analyses of reaction time showed delayed behavioral responses in the 4,200 m altitude group. Further analyses of rotation-related negativity (RRN) revealed that the RRN was significantly more negative and the differences disappeared gradually for different angles among individuals exposed to an altitude of 4,200 m. Moreover, a time-frequency analysis showed significantly enhanced alpha- and beta-band power values for the 4,200 m altitude participants after stimulus presentation. The impairment in mental rotation ability is related to hypoxia and can be attributed to the absence of sufficient cognitive resources, which demonstrates the existence of a threshold for the effects of high altitude on the brain's mental rotation ability. Taken together, our findings have important implications for exploring the altitude threshold for the influence of high-altitude exposure on brain function, as well as for guiding the development of innovative strategies to optimize the response of the organism against chronic hypoxia-induced under extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Li
- School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
| | - Hailin Ma
- Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China.
| | - Xiaobin Ding
- School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Heng Jiang
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuro-information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Shanghai Pudong Development Bank of Tibet, Lhasa 850000, China.
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Yu SF, Wang NN, Hu QL, Dang P, Chang S, Huang XY, Su R, Li H, Zhou J, Ma HL, Liu M, Zhang DL. Neurodynamics of awareness detection in Tibetan immigrants: evidence from EEG analysis. Neuroscience 2023; 522:69-80. [PMID: 37164304 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The psychological effects of long-term exposure to high-altitude environments have attracted great attention. These effects are usually attributed to the diminished cognitive resources due to high-altitude exposure. This study employed electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the effects of exposure duration on awareness detection tasks. Neither reaction time nor accuracy showed the direct effects of the exposure duration, so did the model indexes obtained from drift diffusion model analysis. However, event-related potentials (ERP) analysis revealed that exposure duration was associated with changes in the visual awareness negativity (VAN) and the late positivity (LP) components, which in turn affected reaction time. Specifically, longer exposure durations were associated with lower VAN and higher LP, resulting in shorter reaction times and greater drift rate. In contrast to previous studies, the reverse relationship between VAN and LP may reflect a compensatory response to the reduced cognitive resources caused by high-altitude exposure. Additionally, increased LP and shorter reaction times with exposure duration may reflect a resistance to the high-altitude environment. We also conducted time-frequency analysis and found that theta power did not vary with exposure duration, suggesting that the reduction in cognitive resources remains stable in these individuals over time. Overall, our study provides new insights into the dynamic effects of high-altitude environments on awareness detection in the presence of reduced cognitive resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Fang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nian-Nian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University, Lhasa/Guangzhou, China
| | - Quan-Ling Hu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Dang
- Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University, Lhasa/Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Chang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Su
- Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University, Lhasa/Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Li
- Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University, Lhasa/Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Lin Ma
- Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University, Lhasa/Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University, Lhasa/Guangzhou, China
| | - De-Long Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University, Lhasa/Guangzhou, China.
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Zhang X, Zhang J. The human brain in a high altitude natural environment: A review. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:915995. [PMID: 36188182 PMCID: PMC9520777 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.915995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advancement of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, more detailed information about the human brain at high altitude (HA) has been revealed. The present review aimed to draw a conclusion regarding changes in the human brain in both unacclimatized and acclimatized states in a natural HA environment. Using multiple advanced analysis methods that based on MRI as well as electroencephalography, the modulations of brain gray and white matter morphology and the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying processing of cognitive activity have been explored in certain extent. The visual, motor and insular cortices are brain regions seen to be consistently affected in both HA immigrants and natives. Current findings regarding cortical electrophysiological and blood dynamic signals may be related to cardiovascular and respiratory regulations, and may clarify the mechanisms underlying some behaviors at HA. In general, in the past 10 years, researches on the brain at HA have gone beyond cognitive tests. Due to the sample size is not large enough, the current findings in HA brain are not very reliable, and thus much more researches are needed. Moreover, the histological and genetic bases of brain structures at HA are also needed to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjuan Zhang
- Institute of Brain Diseases and Cognition, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- Institute of Brain Diseases and Cognition, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Jiaxing Zhang,
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Resting-State Neuronal Activity and Functional Connectivity Changes in the Visual Cortex after High Altitude Exposure: A Longitudinal Study. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12060724. [PMID: 35741609 PMCID: PMC9221383 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12060724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to the visual cortex structures after high altitude exposure has been well clarified. However, changes in the neuronal activity and functional connectivity (FC) of the visual cortex after hypoxia/reoxygenation remain unclear. Twenty-three sea-level college students, who took part in 30 days of teaching at high altitude (4300 m), underwent routine blood tests, visual behavior tests, and magnetic resonance imaging scans before they went to high altitude (Test 1), 7 days after they returned to sea level (Test 2), as well as 3 months (Test 3) after they returned to sea level. In this study, we investigated the hematological parameters, behavioral data, and spontaneous brain activity. There were significant differences among the tests in hematological parameters and spontaneous brain activity. The hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell count were significantly increased in Test 2 as compared with Tests 1 and 3. As compared with Test 1, Test 3 increased amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the right calcarine gyrus; Tests 2 and 3 increased ALFF in the right supplementary motor cortex, increased regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the left lingual gyrus, increased the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) value in the motor cortex, and decreased FC between the left lingual gyrus and left postcentral gyrus. The color accuracy in the visual task was positively correlated with ALFF and ReHo in Test 2. Hypoxia/reoxygenation increased functional connection between the neurons within the visual cortex and the motor cortex but decreased connection between the visual cortex and motor cortex.
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