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Sasaki A, Kawai E, Watanabe K, Yamano E, Oba C, Nakamura K, Natsume M, Mizuno K, Watanabe Y. Cacao Polyphenol-Rich Dark Chocolate Intake Contributes to Efficient Brain Activity during Cognitive Tasks: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Crossover, and Dose-Comparison fMRI Study. Nutrients 2023; 16:41. [PMID: 38201871 PMCID: PMC10780455 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010041] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cacao polyphenol-enriched dark chocolate may have beneficial effects on human health, such as facilitating maintaining good performance in long-lasting cognitive tasks. This study examined the effects of dark chocolate intake on improving brain function during cognitive tasks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this randomized, single-blinded, crossover, and dose-comparison study, 26 healthy middle-aged participants ingested dark chocolate (25 g) either with a low concentration (LC) (211.7 mg) or a high concentration (HC) (635 mg) of cacao polyphenols. Thereafter, their brain activities were analyzed during continuous and effortful cognitive tasks relevant to executive functioning using fMRI in two consecutive 15 min sessions (25 and 50 min after ingestion). We observed significant interaction effects between chocolate consumption and brain activity measurement sessions in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left inferior parietal lobule. After HC chocolate ingestion, these areas showed lower brain activity in the second session than in the first session; however, these areas showed higher activity in the second session after LC chocolate ingestion. These results suggest that cacao polyphenol-enriched dark chocolate enhances the efficient use of cognitive resources by reducing the effort of brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Sasaki
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eriko Kawai
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Watanabe
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Emi Yamano
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chisato Oba
- Food Microbiology Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji 192-0919, Tokyo, Japan; (K.N.); (M.N.)
| | - Kentaro Nakamura
- Food Microbiology Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji 192-0919, Tokyo, Japan; (K.N.); (M.N.)
| | - Midori Natsume
- Food Microbiology Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji 192-0919, Tokyo, Japan; (K.N.); (M.N.)
| | - Kei Mizuno
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Watanabe
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
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Hu Y, Liu T, Song S, Qin K, Chan W. The specific brain activity of dual task coordination: a theoretical conflict-control model based on a qualitative and quantitative review. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2022.2143788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hu
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tianliang Liu
- Department of Psychology, The Southwest University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sensen Song
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kaiyang Qin
- Social, Health & Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wai Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
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3
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Filippi M, Krähenmann R, Fissler P. The Link Between Energy-Related Sensations and Metabolism: Implications for Treating Fatigue. Front Psychol 2022; 13:920556. [PMID: 35800955 PMCID: PMC9255916 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.920556] [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: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Energy-related sensations include sensation of energy and fatigue as well as subjective energizability and fatigability. First, we introduce interdisciplinary useful definitions of all constructs and review findings regarding the question of whether sensations of fatigue and energy are two separate constructs or two ends of a single dimension. Second, we describe different components of the bodily energy metabolism system (e.g., mitochondria; autonomic nervous system). Third, we review the link between sensation of fatigue and different components of energy metabolism. Finally, we present an overview of different treatments shown to affect both energy-related sensations and metabolism before outlining future research perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Filippi
- Psychiatric Services Thurgau, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
- University Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Rainer Krähenmann
- Psychiatric Services Thurgau, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
- University Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Rainer Krähenmann,
| | - Patrick Fissler
- Psychiatric Services Thurgau, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
- University Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Mahadevan AD, Hupfeld KE, Lee JK, De Dios YE, Kofman IS, Beltran NE, Mulder E, Bloomberg JJ, Mulavara AP, Seidler RD. Head-Down-Tilt Bed Rest With Elevated CO 2: Effects of a Pilot Spaceflight Analog on Neural Function and Performance During a Cognitive-Motor Dual Task. Front Physiol 2021; 12:654906. [PMID: 34512371 PMCID: PMC8424013 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.654906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight has widespread effects on human performance, including on the ability to dual task. Here, we examine how a spaceflight analog comprising 30 days of head-down-tilt bed rest (HDBR) combined with 0.5% ambient CO2 (HDBR + CO2) influences performance and functional activity of the brain during single and dual tasking of a cognitive and a motor task. The addition of CO2 to HDBR is thought to better mimic the conditions aboard the International Space Station. Participants completed three tasks: (1) COUNT: counting the number of times an oddball stimulus was presented among distractors; (2) TAP: tapping one of two buttons in response to a visual cue; and (3) DUAL: performing both tasks concurrently. Eleven participants (six males) underwent functional MRI (fMRI) while performing these tasks at six time points: twice before HDBR + CO2, twice during HDBR + CO2, and twice after HDBR + CO2. Behavioral measures included reaction time, standard error of reaction time, and tapping accuracy during the TAP and DUAL tasks, and the dual task cost (DTCost) of each of these measures. We also quantified DTCost of fMRI brain activation. In our previous HDBR study of 13 participants (with atmospheric CO2), subjects experienced TAP accuracy improvements during bed rest, whereas TAP accuracy declined while in the current study of HDBR + CO2. In the HDBR + CO2 subjects, we identified a region in the superior frontal gyrus that showed decreased DTCost of brain activation while in HDBR + CO2, and recovered back to baseline levels before the completion of bed rest. Compared to HDBR alone, we found different patterns of brain activation change with HDBR + CO2. HDBR + CO2 subjects had increased DTCost in the middle temporal gyrus whereas HDBR subjects had decreased DTCost in the same area. Five of the HDBR + CO2 subjects developed signs of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). These subjects exhibited lower baseline dual task activation and higher slopes of change during HDBR + CO2 than subjects with no signs of SANS. Collectively, this pilot study provides insight into the additional and/or interactive effects of CO2 levels during HDBR, and information regarding the impacts of this spaceflight analog environment on the neural correlates of dual tasking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya D. Mahadevan
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kathleen E. Hupfeld
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jessica K. Lee
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Edwin Mulder
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | | | | | - Rachael D. Seidler
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Europa E, Gitelman DR, Kiran S, Thompson CK. Neural Connectivity in Syntactic Movement Processing. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:27. [PMID: 30814941 PMCID: PMC6381040 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Linguistic theory suggests non-canonical sentences subvert the dominant agent-verb-theme order in English via displacement of sentence constituents to argument (NP-movement) or non-argument positions (wh-movement). Both processes have been associated with the left inferior frontal gyrus and posterior superior temporal gyrus, but differences in neural activity and connectivity between movement types have not been investigated. In the current study, functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 21 adult participants during an auditory sentence-picture verification task using passive and active sentences contrasted to isolate NP-movement, and object- and subject-cleft sentences contrasted to isolate wh-movement. Then, functional magnetic resonance imaging data from regions common to both movement types were entered into a dynamic causal modeling analysis to examine effective connectivity for wh-movement and NP-movement. Results showed greater left inferior frontal gyrus activation for Wh > NP-movement, but no activation for NP > Wh-movement. Both types of movement elicited activity in the opercular part of the left inferior frontal gyrus, left posterior superior temporal gyrus, and left medial superior frontal gyrus. The dynamic causal modeling analyses indicated that neither movement type significantly modulated the connection from the left inferior frontal gyrus to the left posterior superior temporal gyrus, nor vice-versa, suggesting no connectivity differences between wh- and NP-movement. These findings support the idea that increased complexity of wh-structures, compared to sentences with NP-movement, requires greater engagement of cognitive resources via increased neural activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus, but both movement types engage similar neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Europa
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Darren R Gitelman
- Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, United States.,Department of Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States.,The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Swathi Kiran
- College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Cynthia K Thompson
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States.,The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.,Mesulam Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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Watanabe K, Funahashi S. Toward an understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying dual-task performance: Contribution of comparative approaches using animal models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 84:12-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Huang CY, Chang GC, Tsai YY, Hwang IS. An Increase in Postural Load Facilitates an Anterior Shift of Processing Resources to Frontal Executive Function in a Postural-Suprapostural Task. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:420. [PMID: 27594830 PMCID: PMC4990564 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Increase in postural-demand resources does not necessarily degrade a concurrent motor task, according to the adaptive resource-sharing hypothesis of postural-suprapostural dual-tasking. This study investigated how brain networks are organized to optimize a suprapostural motor task when the postural load increases and shifts postural control into a less automatic process. Fourteen volunteers executed a designated force-matching task from a level surface (a relative automatic process in posture) and from a stabilometer board while maintaining balance at a target angle (a relatively controlled process in posture). Task performance of the postural and suprapostural tasks, synchronization likelihood (SL) of scalp EEG, and graph-theoretical metrics were assessed. Behavioral results showed that the accuracy and reaction time of force-matching from a stabilometer board were not affected, despite a significant increase in postural sway. However, force-matching in the stabilometer condition showed greater local and global efficiencies of the brain networks than force-matching in the level-surface condition. Force-matching from a stabilometer board was also associated with greater frontal cluster coefficients, greater mean SL of the frontal and sensorimotor areas, and smaller mean SL of the parietal-occipital cortex than force-matching from a level surface. The contrast of supra-threshold links in the upper alpha and beta bands between the two stance conditions validated load-induced facilitation of inter-regional connections between the frontal and sensorimotor areas, but that contrast also indicated connection suppression between the right frontal-temporal and the parietal-occipital areas for the stabilometer stance condition. In conclusion, an increase in stance difficulty alters the neurocognitive processes in executing a postural-suprapostural task. Suprapostural performance is not degraded by increase in postural load, due to (1) increased effectiveness of information transfer, (2) an anterior shift of processing resources toward frontal executive function, and (3) cortical dissociation of control hubs in the parietal-occipital cortex for neural economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ya Huang
- School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityTaipei City, Taiwan; Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University HospitalTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Gwo-Ching Chang
- Department of Information Engineering, I-Shou University Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ying Tsai
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Ing-Shiou Hwang
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityTainan City, Taiwan; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityTainan City, Taiwan
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8
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McKendrick R, Parasuraman R, Murtza R, Formwalt A, Baccus W, Paczynski M, Ayaz H. Into the Wild: Neuroergonomic Differentiation of Hand-Held and Augmented Reality Wearable Displays during Outdoor Navigation with Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:216. [PMID: 27242480 PMCID: PMC4870997 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly mobile computing devices promise to improve quality of life, productivity, and performance. Increased situation awareness and reduced mental workload are two potential means by which this can be accomplished. However, it is difficult to measure these concepts in the “wild”. We employed ultra-portable battery operated and wireless functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to non-invasively measure hemodynamic changes in the brain’s Prefrontal cortex (PFC). Measurements were taken during navigation of a college campus with either a hand-held display, or an Augmented reality wearable display (ARWD). Hemodynamic measures were also paired with secondary tasks of visual perception and auditory working memory to provide behavioral assessment of situation awareness and mental workload. Navigating with an augmented reality wearable display produced the least workload during the auditory working memory task, and a trend for improved situation awareness in our measures of prefrontal hemodynamics. The hemodynamics associated with errors were also different between the two devices. Errors with an augmented reality wearable display were associated with increased prefrontal activity and the opposite was observed for the hand-held display. This suggests that the cognitive mechanisms underlying errors between the two devices differ. These findings show fNIRS is a valuable tool for assessing new technology in ecologically valid settings and that ARWDs offer benefits with regards to mental workload while navigating, and potentially superior situation awareness with improved display design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan McKendrick
- Psychology Department, Human Factors and Applied Cognition, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Raja Parasuraman
- Psychology Department, Human Factors and Applied Cognition, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Rabia Murtza
- Psychology Department, Human Factors and Applied Cognition, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Alice Formwalt
- Psychology Department, Human Factors and Applied Cognition, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Wendy Baccus
- Psychology Department, Human Factors and Applied Cognition, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Martin Paczynski
- Psychology Department, Human Factors and Applied Cognition, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Hasan Ayaz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, USA; Department of Family and Community Health, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA; Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
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9
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Neural Correlates of Task Cost for Stance Control with an Additional Motor Task: Phase-Locked Electroencephalogram Responses. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151906. [PMID: 27010634 PMCID: PMC4807025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
With appropriate reallocation of central resources, the ability to maintain an erect posture is not necessarily degraded by a concurrent motor task. This study investigated the neural control of a particular postural-suprapostural procedure involving brain mechanisms to solve crosstalk between posture and motor subtasks. Participants completed a single posture task and a dual-task while concurrently conducting force-matching and maintaining a tilted stabilometer stance at a target angle. Stabilometer movements and event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The added force-matching task increased the irregularity of postural response rather than the size of postural response prior to force-matching. In addition, the added force-matching task during stabilometer stance led to marked topographic ERP modulation, with greater P2 positivity in the frontal and sensorimotor-parietal areas of the N1-P2 transitional phase and in the sensorimotor-parietal area of the late P2 phase. The time-frequency distribution of the ERP primary principal component revealed that the dual-task condition manifested more pronounced delta (1–4 Hz) and beta (13–35 Hz) synchronizations but suppressed theta activity (4–8 Hz) before force-matching. The dual-task condition also manifested coherent fronto-parietal delta activity in the P2 period. In addition to a decrease in postural regularity, this study reveals spatio-temporal and temporal-spectral reorganizations of ERPs in the fronto-sensorimotor-parietal network due to the added suprapostural motor task. For a particular set of postural-suprapostural task, the behavior and neural data suggest a facilitatory role of autonomous postural response and central resource expansion with increasing interregional interactions for task-shift and planning the motor-suprapostural task.
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Deschamps I, Hasson U, Tremblay P. The Structural Correlates of Statistical Information Processing during Speech Perception. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149375. [PMID: 26919234 PMCID: PMC4771024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The processing of continuous and complex auditory signals such as speech relies on the ability to use statistical cues (e.g. transitional probabilities). In this study, participants heard short auditory sequences composed either of Italian syllables or bird songs and completed a regularity-rating task. Behaviorally, participants were better at differentiating between levels of regularity in the syllable sequences than in the bird song sequences. Inter-individual differences in sensitivity to regularity for speech stimuli were correlated with variations in surface-based cortical thickness (CT). These correlations were found in several cortical areas including regions previously associated with statistical structure processing (e.g. bilateral superior temporal sulcus, left precentral sulcus and inferior frontal gyrus), as well other regions (e.g. left insula, bilateral superior frontal gyrus/sulcus and supramarginal gyrus). In all regions, this correlation was positive suggesting that thicker cortex is related to higher sensitivity to variations in the statistical structure of auditory sequences. Overall, these results suggest that inter-individual differences in CT within a distributed network of cortical regions involved in statistical structure processing, attention and memory is predictive of the ability to detect structural structure in auditory speech sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Deschamps
- Département de Réadaptation, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire en santé mentale de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Uri Hasson
- Center for Mind & Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Mattarello (TN), Italy
| | - Pascale Tremblay
- Département de Réadaptation, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire en santé mentale de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada
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11
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Naci L, Sinai L, Owen AM. Detecting and interpreting conscious experiences in behaviorally non-responsive patients. Neuroimage 2015; 145:304-313. [PMID: 26679327 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.11.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 10/31/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Decoding the contents of consciousness from brain activity is one of the most challenging frontiers of cognitive neuroscience. The ability to interpret mental content without recourse to behavior is most relevant for understanding patients who may be demonstrably conscious, but entirely unable to speak or move willfully in any way, precluding any systematic investigation of their conscious experience. The lack of consistent behavioral responsivity engenders unique challenges to decoding any conscious experiences these patients may have solely based on their brain activity. For this reason, paradigms that have been successful in healthy individuals cannot serve to interpret conscious mental states in this patient group. Until recently, patient studies have used structured instructions to elicit willful modulation of brain activity according to command, in order to decode the presence of willful brain-based responses in this patient group. In recent work, we have used naturalistic paradigms, such as watching a movie or listening to an audio-story, to demonstrate that a common neural code supports conscious experiences in different individuals. Moreover, we have demonstrated that this code can be used to interpret the conscious experiences of a patient who had remained non-responsive for several years. This approach is easy to administer, brief, and does not require compliance with task instructions. Rather, it engages attention naturally through meaningful stimuli that are similar to the real-world sensory information in a patient's environment. Therefore, it may be particularly suited to probing consciousness and revealing residual brain function in highly impaired, acute, patients in a comatose state, thus helping to improve diagnostication and prognostication for this vulnerable patient group from the critical early stages of severe brain-injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorina Naci
- The Brain and Mind Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Western ON, London N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Leah Sinai
- The Brain and Mind Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Western ON, London N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Adrian M Owen
- The Brain and Mind Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Western ON, London N6A 5B7, Canada
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12
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Frontier studies on fatigue, autonomic nerve dysfunction, and sleep-rhythm disorder. J Physiol Sci 2015; 65:483-98. [PMID: 26420687 PMCID: PMC4621713 DOI: 10.1007/s12576-015-0399-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Fatigue is defined as a condition or phenomenon of decreased ability and efficiency of mental and/or physical activities, caused by excessive mental or physical activities, diseases, or syndromes. It is often accompanied by a peculiar sense of discomfort, a desire to rest, and reduced motivation, referred to as fatigue sensation. Acute fatigue is a normal condition or phenomenon that disappears after a period of rest; in contrast, chronic fatigue, lasting at least 6 months, does not disappear after ordinary rest. Chronic fatigue impairs activities and contributes to various medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, epileptic seizures, and death. In addition, many people complain of chronic fatigue. For example, in Japan, more than one third of the general adult population complains of chronic fatigue. It would thus be of great value to clarify the mechanisms underlying chronic fatigue and to develop efficient treatment methods to overcome it. Here, we review data primarily from behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging experiments related to neural dysfunction as well as autonomic nervous system, sleep, and circadian rhythm disorders in fatigue. These data provide new perspectives on the mechanisms underlying chronic fatigue and on overcoming it.
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Mizuno K, Tanaka M, Tanabe HC, Joudoi T, Kawatani J, Shigihara Y, Tomoda A, Miike T, Imai-Matsumura K, Sadato N, Watanabe Y. Less efficient and costly processes of frontal cortex in childhood chronic fatigue syndrome. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2015; 9:355-68. [PMID: 26594619 PMCID: PMC4589845 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The ability to divide one's attention deteriorates in patients with childhood chronic fatigue syndrome (CCFS). We conducted a study using a dual verbal task to assess allocation of attentional resources to two simultaneous activities (picking out vowels and reading for story comprehension) and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Patients exhibited a much larger area of activation, recruiting additional frontal areas. The right middle frontal gyrus (MFG), which is included in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, of CCFS patients was specifically activated in both the single and dual tasks; this activation level was positively correlated with motivation scores for the tasks and accuracy of story comprehension. In addition, in patients, the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus (dACC) and left MFG were activated only in the dual task, and activation levels of the dACC and left MFG were positively associated with the motivation and fatigue scores, respectively. Patients with CCFS exhibited a wider area of activated frontal regions related to attentional resources in order to increase their poorer task performance with massive mental effort. This is likely to be less efficient and costly in terms of energy requirements. It seems to be related to the pathophysiology of patients with CCFS and to cause a vicious cycle of further increases in fatigue. Decrease in divided attention was related to fatigue in childhood and adolescence. Left frontal cortex of healthy students activated in verbal divided attention task Right MFG and ACG were additionally activated in CCFS patients. CCFS is characterized as an energy-inefficient process in frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Mizuno
- Pathophysiological and Health Science Team, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 6-7-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan ; Department of Medical Science on Fatigue, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 545-8585, Japan
| | - Masaaki Tanaka
- Department of Physiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 545-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroki C Tanabe
- Department of Cerebral Research, Division of Cerebral Integration, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan ; Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Takako Joudoi
- Department of Child Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjyo, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Junko Kawatani
- Department of Child Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjyo, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Shigihara
- Department of Physiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 545-8585, Japan
| | - Akemi Tomoda
- Department of Child Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjyo, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan ; Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-shimoaiduki, Eiheiji-cho, Fukui 910-1193, Japan
| | - Teruhisa Miike
- Department of Child Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjyo, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan ; Hyogo Children's Sleep and Development Medical Research Center, 1070 Akebono-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2181, Japan
| | - Kyoko Imai-Matsumura
- Department of School Psychology, Developmental Science and Health Education, Hyogo University of Teacher Education, Graduate School in Science of School Education, 942-1 Shimokume, Kato, Hyogo 673-1494, Japan
| | - Norihiro Sadato
- Department of Cerebral Research, Division of Cerebral Integration, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Watanabe
- Pathophysiological and Health Science Team, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 6-7-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan ; Department of Physiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 545-8585, Japan
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Chan JL, Kucyi A, DeSouza JFX. Stable Task Representations under Attentional Load Revealed with Multivariate Pattern Analysis of Human Brain Activity. J Cogn Neurosci 2015; 27:1789-800. [PMID: 25941872 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Performing multiple tasks concurrently places a load on limited attentional resources and results in disrupted task performance. Although human neuroimaging studies have investigated the neural correlates of attentional load, how attentional load affects task processing is poorly understood. Here, task-related neural activity was investigated using fMRI with conventional univariate analysis and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) while participants performed blocks of prosaccades and antisaccades, either with or without a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) task. Performing prosaccades and antisaccades with RSVP increased error rates and RTs, decreased mean activation in frontoparietal brain areas associated with oculomotor control, and eliminated differences in activation between prosaccades and antisaccades. However, task identity could be decoded from spatial patterns of activation both in the absence and presence of an attentional load. Furthermore, in the FEFs and intraparietal sulcus, these spatial representations were found to be similar using cross-trial-type MVPA, which suggests stability under attentional load. These results demonstrate that attentional load may disrupt the strength of task-related neural activity, rather than the identity of task representations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aaron Kucyi
- University of Toronto.,Harvard Medical School.,Massachusetts General Hospital
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Nijboer M, Borst J, van Rijn H, Taatgen N. Single-task fMRI overlap predicts concurrent multitasking interference. Neuroimage 2014; 100:60-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.05.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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A common neural code for similar conscious experiences in different individuals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:14277-82. [PMID: 25225384 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1407007111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The interpretation of human consciousness from brain activity, without recourse to speech or action, is one of the most provoking and challenging frontiers of modern neuroscience. We asked whether there is a common neural code that underpins similar conscious experiences, which could be used to decode these experiences in the absence of behavior. To this end, we used richly evocative stimulation (an engaging movie) portraying real-world events to elicit a similar conscious experience in different people. Common neural correlates of conscious experience were quantified and related to measurable, quantitative and qualitative, executive components of the movie through two additional behavioral investigations. The movie's executive demands drove synchronized brain activity across healthy participants' frontal and parietal cortices in regions known to support executive function. Moreover, the timing of activity in these regions was predicted by participants' highly similar qualitative experience of the movie's moment-to-moment executive demands, suggesting that synchronization of activity across participants underpinned their similar experience. Thus we demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, that a neural index based on executive function reliably predicted every healthy individual's similar conscious experience in response to real-world events unfolding over time. This approach provided strong evidence for the conscious experience of a brain-injured patient, who had remained entirely behaviorally nonresponsive for 16 y. The patient's executive engagement and moment-to-moment perception of the movie content were highly similar to that of every healthy participant. These findings shed light on the common basis of human consciousness and enable the interpretation of conscious experience in the absence of behavior.
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Mizuno K, Tajima K, Watanabe Y, Kuratsune H. Fatigue correlates with the decrease in parasympathetic sinus modulation induced by a cognitive challenge. Behav Brain Funct 2014; 10:25. [PMID: 25069864 PMCID: PMC4123830 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-10-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It is known that enhancement of sympathetic nerve activity based on a decrease in parasympathetic nerve activity is associated with fatigue induced by mental tasks lasting more than 30 min. However, to measure autonomic nerve function and assess fatigue levels in both clinical and industrial settings, shorter experimental durations and more sensitive measurement methods are needed. The aim of the present study was to establish an improved method for inducing fatigue and evaluating the association between it and autonomic nerve activity. Methods Twenty-eight healthy female college students participated in the study. We used a kana pick-out test (KPT) as a brief verbal cognitive task and recorded electrocardiography (ECG) to measure autonomic nerve activity. The experimental design consisted of a 16-min period of ECG: A pre-task resting state with eyes open for 3 min and eyes closed for 3 min, the 4-min KPT, and a post-task resting state with eyes open for 3 min and eyes closed for 3 min. Results Baseline fatigue sensation, measured by a visual analogue scale before the experiment, was associated with the decrease in parasympathetic sinus modulation, as indicated the by ratio of low-frequency component power (LF) to high-frequency component power (HF), during the KPT. The LF/HF ratio during the post-KPT rest with eyes open tended to be greater than the ratio during the KPT and correlated with fatigue sensation. Fatigue sensation was correlated negatively with log-transformed HF, which is an index of parasympathetic sinus modulation, during the post-KPT rest with eyes open. Conclusions The methods described here are useful for assessing the association between fatigue sensation and autonomic nerve activity using a brief cognitive test in healthy females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Mizuno
- Pathophysiological and Health Science Team, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 6-7-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.
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Mizuno K, Tanaka M, Fukuda S, Imai-Matsumura K, Watanabe Y. Divided attention of adolescents related to lifestyles and academic and family conditions. Brain Dev 2013; 35:435-40. [PMID: 22877835 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2012.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Revised: 07/10/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Development of the ability to divide attention is of crucial importance in the transitional period from elementary to junior high school. The relationship between divided attention and the prevalence of fatigue or low academic motivation is observed in junior high school students. In order to clarify the factors underlying decreased ability to divide attention, we examined the relationships between divided attention, as assessed by the kana pick-out test, lifestyle factors, and academic and family conditions in junior high school students. METHODS The study group consisted of 158 healthy 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-grade level junior high school students. Each participant performed the kana pick-out test and questionnaires dealing with lifestyle factors (nocturnal sleeping hours on school days, breakfast, exercise, watching television, and spending time with family members), and academic and family conditions (good friendships at school and praise from family members when participants showed good academic performance). RESULTS On multiple regression analyses adjusted for grade and gender, scores on the kana pick-out test were positively associated with spending time with family members. In addition, the comprehension score of the kana pick-out test was positively associated with having breakfast every day and praise by family members. The score was negatively associated with watching television. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest that the ability to divide attention is independently associated with good lifestyles and academic and family conditions in junior high school students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Mizuno
- Molecular Probe Dynamics Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Molecular Imaging Science, 6-7-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.
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