Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Dec 2014)

Cerebral oscillatory activity during simulated driving using MEG

  • Kotoe eSakihara,
  • Kotoe eSakihara,
  • Masayuki eHirata,
  • Masayuki eHirata,
  • Kazutoshi eEbe,
  • Kenji eKimura,
  • Seong Yi eRyu,
  • Yoshiyuki eKono,
  • Nozomi eMuto,
  • Masako eYoshioka,
  • Toshiki eYoshimine,
  • Shiro eYorifuji

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00975
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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We aimed to examine cerebral oscillatory differences associated with psychological processes during simulated car driving. We recorded neuromagnetic signals in 14 healthy volunteers using magnetoencephalography (MEG) during simulated driving. MEG data were analyzed using synthetic aperture magnetometry to detect the spatial distribution of cerebral oscillations. Group effects between subjects were analyzed statistically using a nonparametric permutation test. Oscillatory differences were calculated by comparison between passive viewing and active driving. Passive viewing was the baseline, and oscillatory differences during active driving showed an increase or decrease in comparison with a baseline. Power increase in the theta band was detected in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) during active driving. Power decreases in the alpha, beta, and low gamma bands were detected in the right inferior parietal lobe (IPL), left postcentral gyrus (PoCG), middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and posterior cingulate gyrus (PCiG) during active driving. Power increase in the theta band in the SFG may play a role in attention. Power decrease in the right IPL may reflect selectively divided attention and visuospatial processing, whereas that in the left PoCG reflects sensorimotor activation related to driving manipulation. Power decreases in the MTG and PCiG may be associated with object recognition.

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