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Yang S, Ma H, Wang L, Wang F, Xia J, Liu D, Mu L, Yang X, Liu D. The Role of β3-Adrenergic Receptors in Cold-Induced Beige Adipocyte Production in Pigs. Cells 2024; 13:709. [PMID: 38667324 PMCID: PMC11049327 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080709] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
After exposure to cold stress, animals enhance the production of beige adipocytes and expedite thermogenesis, leading to improved metabolic health. Although brown adipose tissue in rodents is primarily induced by β3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) stimulation, the activation of major β-adrenergic receptors (ADRBs) in pigs has been a topic of debate. To address this, we developed overexpression vectors for ADRB1, ADRB2, and ADRB3 and silenced the expression of these receptors to observe their effects on the adipogenic differentiation stages of porcine preadipocytes. Our investigation revealed that cold stress triggers the transformation of subcutaneous white adipose tissue to beige adipose tissue in pigs by modulating adrenergic receptor levels. Meanwhile, we found that ADRB3 promotes the transformation of white adipocytes into beige adipocytes. Notably, ADRB3 enhances the expression of beige adipose tissue marker genes, consequently influencing cellular respiration and metabolism by regulating lipolysis and mitochondrial expression. Therefore, ADRB3 may serve as a pivotal gene in animal husbandry and contribute to the improvement of cold intolerance in piglets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Hong Ma
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Jiqiao Xia
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science & Technology, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Dongyu Liu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Linlin Mu
- Institute of Forage and Grassland Sciences, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Xiuqin Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Di Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
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Laguna A, Pusil S, Bazán À, Zegarra-Valdivia JA, Paltrinieri AL, Piras P, Palomares I Perera C, Pardos Véglia A, Garcia-Algar O, Orlandi S. Multi-modal analysis of infant cry types characterization: Acoustics, body language and brain signals. Comput Biol Med 2023; 167:107626. [PMID: 37918262 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107626] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infant crying is the first attempt babies use to communicate during their initial months of life. A misunderstanding of the cry message can compromise infant care and future neurodevelopmental process. METHODS An exploratory study collecting multimodal data (i.e., crying, electroencephalography (EEG), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), facial expressions, and body movements) from 38 healthy full-term newborns was conducted. Cry types were defined based on different conditions (i.e., hunger, sleepiness, fussiness, need to burp, and distress). Statistical analysis, Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) techniques were used to identify relevant features for cry type classification and to evaluate a robust DL algorithm named Acoustic MultiStage Interpreter (AMSI). RESULTS Significant differences were found across cry types based on acoustics, EEG, NIRS, facial expressions, and body movements. Acoustics and body language were identified as the most relevant ML features to support the cause of crying. The DL AMSI algorithm achieved an accuracy rate of 92%. CONCLUSIONS This study set a precedent for cry analysis research by highlighting the complexity of newborn cry expression and strengthening the potential use of infant cry analysis as an objective, reliable, accessible, and non-invasive tool for cry interpretation, improving the infant-parent relationship and ensuring family well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jonathan Adrián Zegarra-Valdivia
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain; Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, Peru
| | | | | | | | | | - Oscar Garcia-Algar
- Neonatology Unit, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, ICGON, BCNatal, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Department de Cirurgia I Especialitats Mèdico-quirúrgiques, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Orlandi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi"(DEI), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Health Sciences and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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3
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Wang Y, Zhang J, Li Y, Qi S, Zhang F, Ball LJ, Duan H. Preventing prefrontal dysfunction by tDCS modulates stress-induced creativity impairment in women: an fNIRS study. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10528-10545. [PMID: 37585735 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad301] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a major external factor threatening creative activity. The study explored whether left-lateralized activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex manipulated through transcranial direct current stimulation could alleviate stress-induced impairment in creativity. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to explore the underlying neural mechanisms. Ninety female participants were randomly assigned to three groups that received stress induction with sham stimulation, stress induction with true stimulation (anode over the left and cathode over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and control manipulation with sham stimulation, respectively. Participants underwent the stress or control task after the transcranial direct current stimulation manipulation, and then completed the Alternative Uses Task to measure creativity. Behavioral results showed that transcranial direct current stimulation reduced stress responses in heart rate and anxiety. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy results revealed that transcranial direct current stimulation alleviated dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex under stress, as evidenced by higher activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and frontopolar cortex, as well as stronger inter-hemispheric and intra-hemispheric functional connectivity within the prefrontal cortex. Further analysis demonstrated that the cortical regulatory effect prevented creativity impairment induced by stress. The findings validated the hemispheric asymmetry hypothesis regarding stress and highlighted the potential for brain stimulation to alleviate stress-related mental disorders and enhance creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 041000, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 041000, China
| | - Yadan Li
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 041000, China
| | - Senqing Qi
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 041000, China
| | - Fengqing Zhang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Linden J Ball
- School of Psychology & Computer Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK
| | - Haijun Duan
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 041000, China
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4
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Wang GY, Crook-Rumsey M, Sumich A, Dulson D, Gao TT, Premkumar P. The relationships between expressed emotion, cortisol, and EEG alpha asymmetry. Physiol Behav 2023:114276. [PMID: 37364671 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114276] [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: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Families can express high criticism, hostility and emotional over-involvement towards a person with or at risk of mental health problems. Perceiving such high expressed emotion (EE) can be a major psychological stressor for individuals, especially those at risk of mental health problems. To reveal the biological mechanisms underlying the effect of EE on health, this study investigated physiological response (salivary cortisol, frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA)) to verbal criticism and their relationship to anxiety and perceived EE. Using a repeated-measures design, healthy participants attended three testing sessions on non-consecutive days. On each day, participants listened to one of three types of auditory stimuli, namely criticism, neutral or praise, and Electroencephalography (EEG) and salivary cortisol were measured. Results showed a reduction in cortisol following criticism but there was no significant change in FAA. Post-criticism cortisol concentration negatively correlated with perceived EE after controlling for baseline mood. Our findings suggest that salivary cortisol change responds to criticism in non-clinical populations might be largely driven by individual differences in the perception of criticism (e.g., arousal and relevance). Criticisms expressed by audio comments may not be explicitly perceived as an acute emotional stressor, and thus, physiological change responds to criticisms could be minimum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Y Wang
- School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Australia; Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.
| | | | | | - Deb Dulson
- School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Newcastle University, UK; Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
| | - Terry T Gao
- Morton Bay Regional Council, Queensland, Australia
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El Basbasse Y, Packheiser J, Peterburs J, Maymon C, Güntürkün O, Grimshaw G, Ocklenburg S. Walk the plank! Using mobile electroencephalography to investigate emotional lateralization of immersive fear in virtual reality. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221239. [PMID: 37266038 PMCID: PMC10230188 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Most studies on emotion processing induce emotions through images or films. However, this method lacks ecological validity, limiting generalization to real-life emotion processing. More realistic paradigms using virtual reality (VR) may be better suited to investigate authentic emotional states and their neuronal correlates. This pre-registered study examines the neuronal underpinnings of naturalistic fear, measured using mobile electroencephalography (EEG). Seventy-five healthy participants walked across a virtual plank which extended from the side of a skyscraper-either 80 storeys up (the negative condition) or at street level (the neutral condition). Subjective ratings showed that the negative condition induced feelings of fear. Following the VR experience, participants passively viewed negative and neutral images from the international affective picture system (IAPS) outside of VR. We compared frontal alpha asymmetry between the plank and IAPS task and across valence of the conditions. Asymmetry indices in the plank task revealed greater right-hemispheric lateralization during the negative VR condition, relative to the neutral VR condition and to IAPS viewing. Within the IAPS task, no significant asymmetries were detected. In summary, our findings indicate that immersive technologies such as VR can advance emotion research by providing more ecologically valid ways to induce emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin El Basbasse
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Julian Packheiser
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Social Brain Lab, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jutta Peterburs
- Institute for Systems Medicine & Department of Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Christopher Maymon
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Onur Güntürkün
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Gina Grimshaw
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
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Bae J, Lee JS, Oh J, Han DW, Jung H, Kim SM, Song Y. Association between preoperative frontal electroencephalogram alpha asymmetry and postoperative quality of recovery: an observational study. Br J Anaesth 2023; 130:430-438. [PMID: 36631312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.12.003] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Left-sided frontal alpha asymmetry on electroencephalograms, which indicates decreased relative left-hemispheric activity, has been associated with depression, anxiety, and stress responsivity. We aimed to evaluate the association between perioperative measures of frontal alpha asymmetry and quality of recovery (QoR) after surgery. METHODS We enrolled 110 female patients undergoing thyroidectomy and recorded perioperative electroencephalograms. The power of the prefrontal alpha band (8-13 Hz) was measured in the Fp1 and Fp2 leads. Left-sided frontal alpha asymmetry was defined as a higher alpha band power in Fp1 than in Fp2 and vice versa. QoR was assessed using the QoR-15 score on the day before surgery and postoperative days 1 and 2. The primary study endpoint was a difference in postoperative global QoR-15 score between preoperative left-sided and right-sided alpha asymmetry groups. The predictability of frontal alpha asymmetry for poor QoR-15 score was also evaluated. RESULTS The global QoR-15 score showed a significant group-by-time interaction, and post-hoc analysis revealed significantly lower scores on postoperative days 1 (P=0.006) and 2 (P<0.001) in the left-sided frontal alpha asymmetry group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, preoperative left-sided frontal alpha asymmetry was associated with a 3.3-fold increased risk of the lowest tertile for the postoperative day 1 QoR-15 score (95% CI: 1.31-8.24; P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative left-sided frontal alpha asymmetry was independently associated with a lower postoperative QoR-15 score in female patients undergoing thyroidectomy, highlighting the potential role of preoperative frontal electroencephalography in predicting patient-centred outcomes after surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION KCT0006586 (http://cris.nih.go.kr/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayyoung Bae
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Sung Lee
- Department of Surgery and Institute of Refractory Thyroid Cancer, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jooyoung Oh
- Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Woo Han
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejae Jung
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Mo Kim
- Department of Surgery and Institute of Refractory Thyroid Cancer, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Song
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Berretz G, Dutschke C, Leonard E, Packheiser J. Ewww-Investigating the neural basis of disgust in response to naturalistic and pictorial nauseating stimuli. Front Psychiatry 2023; 13:1054224. [PMID: 36756635 PMCID: PMC9899807 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1054224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotion induction in psychological and neuroscientific research has been mostly done by presenting participants with picture or film material. However, it is debatable whether this passive approach to emotion induction results in an affective state comparable to real-life emotions, and if the neural correlates of emotion processing are ecologically valid. To investigate the appropriateness of pictures for the induction of emotions, we presented 56 participants in a within-subjects design with naturalistic disgusting and neutral stimuli as well as with pictures of said stimulus material while recording continuous EEG data. We calculated asymmetry indices (AIs) for alpha power as an index of emotion processing and emotion regulation at the F3/4, F5/6, F7/8, and O1/2 electrode pairs. Participants reported higher disgust ratings for disgusting naturalistic compared to disgusting pictorial stimuli. Investigating changes in the EEG signal in participants with a pronounced disgust response (n = 38), we found smaller AIs for naturalistic stimuli compared to pictures. Moreover, in this disgusted sub-sample, there were smaller AIs in response to naturalistic disgusting stimuli compared to pictorial disgusting and neutral stimuli at the O1/2 electrode pair indicating stronger activation of the right relative to the left hemisphere by naturalistic stimuli. As the right hemisphere has been shown to display dominance in processing negative and withdrawal-associated emotions, this might indicate that naturalistic stimuli are more appropriate for the induction of emotions than picture stimuli. To improve the validity of results from emotion induction, future research should incorporate stimulus material that is as naturalistic as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gesa Berretz
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Canan Dutschke
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Elodie Leonard
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julian Packheiser
- Social Brain Lab, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Pfeifer LS, Heyers K, Berretz G, Metzen D, Packheiser J, Ocklenburg S. Broadening the scope: Increasing phenotype diversity in laterality research. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1048388. [PMID: 36386787 PMCID: PMC9650052 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1048388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lena Sophie Pfeifer
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Faculty for Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Katrin Heyers
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty for Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Experimental Psychology II and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology, School of Human Sciences, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Gesa Berretz
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty for Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dorothea Metzen
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty for Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julian Packheiser
- Social Brain Lab, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty for Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Aspiotis V, Miltiadous A, Kalafatakis K, Tzimourta KD, Giannakeas N, Tsipouras MG, Peschos D, Glavas E, Tzallas AT. Assessing Electroencephalography as a Stress Indicator: A VR High-Altitude Scenario Monitored through EEG and ECG. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:s22155792. [PMID: 35957348 PMCID: PMC9371026 DOI: 10.3390/s22155792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, virtual reality (VR) has become an increasingly accessible commodity. Head-mounted display (HMD) immersive technologies allow researchers to simulate experimental scenarios that would be unfeasible or risky in real life. An example is extreme heights exposure simulations, which can be utilized in research on stress system mobilization. Until recently, electroencephalography (EEG)-related research was focused on mental stress prompted by social or mathematical challenges, with only a few studies employing HMD VR techniques to induce stress. In this study, we combine a state-of-the-art EEG wearable device and an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor with a VR headset to provoke stress in a high-altitude scenarios while monitoring EEG and ECG biomarkers in real time. A robust pipeline for signal clearing is implemented to preprocess the noise-infiltrated (due to movement) EEG data. Statistical and correlation analysis is employed to explore the relationship between these biomarkers with stress. The participant pool is divided into two groups based on their heart rate increase, where statistically important EEG biomarker differences emerged between them. Finally, the occipital-region band power changes and occipital asymmetry alterations were found to be associated with height-related stress and brain activation in beta and gamma bands, which correlates with the results of the self-reported Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Aspiotis
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Andreas Miltiadous
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Konstantinos Kalafatakis
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
- Institute of Health Science Education, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London (Malta Campus), VCT 2520 Victoria, Malta
| | - Katerina D. Tzimourta
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece;
| | - Nikolaos Giannakeas
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Markos G. Tsipouras
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios Peschos
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Euripidis Glavas
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Alexandros T. Tzallas
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
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LoMauro A, Molisso MT, Mameli F, Ruggiero F, Ferrucci R, Dellarosa C, Aglieco G, Aliverti A, Barbieri S, Vergari M. EEG Evaluation of Stress Exposure on Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Emergency: Not Just an Impression. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:923576. [PMID: 35923294 PMCID: PMC9339626 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.923576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychological distress among healthcare professionals, although already a common condition, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This effect has been generally self-reported or assessed through questionnaires. We aimed to identify potential abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain of healthcare workers, operating in different roles during the pandemic. Cortical activity, cognitive performances, sleep, and burnout were evaluated two times in 20 COVID-19 frontline operators (FLCO, median age 29.5 years) and 20 operators who worked in COVID-19-free units (CFO, median 32 years): immediately after the outbreak of the pandemic (first session) and almost 6 months later (second session). FLCO showed higher theta relative power over the entire scalp (FLCO = 19.4%; CFO = 13.9%; p = 0.04) and lower peak alpha frequency of electrodes F7 (FLCO = 10.4 Hz; CFO = 10.87 Hz; p = 0.017) and F8 (FLCO = 10.47 Hz; CFO = 10.87 Hz; p = 0.017) in the first session. FLCO parietal interhemispheric coherence of theta (FLCO I = 0.607; FLCO II = 0.478; p = 0.025) and alpha (FLCO I = 0.578; FLCO II = 0.478; p = 0.007) rhythms decreased over time. FLCO also showed lower scores in the global cognitive assessment test (FLCO = 22.72 points; CFO = 25.56; p = 0.006) during the first session. The quantitative evaluation of the cortical activity might therefore reveal early signs of changes secondary to stress exposure in healthcare professionals, suggesting the implementation of measures to prevent serious social and professional consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella LoMauro
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria. Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Takeko Molisso
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria. Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Unità di Neurofisiopatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mameli
- Unità di Neurofisiopatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabiana Ruggiero
- Unità di Neurofisiopatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- ‘Aldo Ravelli Center', Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, III Clinica Neurologica Polo Universitario San Paolo, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Dellarosa
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Giada Aglieco
- Unità di Neurofisiopatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Aliverti
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria. Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Barbieri
- Unità di Neurofisiopatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Vergari
- Unità di Neurofisiopatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Maurizio Vergari
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Relationship between electroencephalographic data and comfort perception captured in a Virtual Reality design environment of an aircraft cabin. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10938. [PMID: 35768460 PMCID: PMC9243066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14747-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful aircraft cabin design depends on how the different stakeholders are involved since the first phases of product development. To predict passenger satisfaction prior to the manufacturing phase, human response was investigated in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment simulating a cabin aircraft. Subjective assessments of virtual designs have been collected via questionnaires, while the underlying neural mechanisms have been captured through electroencephalographic (EEG) data. In particular, we focused on the modulation of EEG alpha rhythm as a valuable marker of the brain’s internal state and investigated which changes in alpha power and connectivity can be related to a different visual comfort perception by comparing groups with higher and lower comfort rates. Results show that alpha-band power decreased in occipital regions during subjects’ immersion in the virtual cabin compared with the relaxation state, reflecting attention to the environment. Moreover, alpha-band power was modulated by comfort perception: lower comfort was associated with a lower alpha power compared to higher comfort. Further, alpha-band Granger connectivity shows top-down mechanisms in higher comfort participants, modulating attention and restoring partial relaxation. Present results contribute to understanding the role of alpha rhythm in visual comfort perception and demonstrate that VR and EEG represent promising tools to quantify human–environment interactions.
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