Effects of rhythmic visual cues on cortical activation and functional connectivity features during stepping: an fNIRS study

Jiajia Wu; Jiajia Wu; Jiajia Wu; Huilin Zhou; Huilin Zhou; Hao Chen; Hao Chen; Hao Chen; Wensong Jiang; Wensong Jiang; Wensong Jiang; Xuelian Wang; Xuelian Wang; Xuelian Wang; Tao Meng; Tao Meng; Tao Meng; Chaowen Wu; Chaowen Wu; Chaowen Wu; Li Li; Yuemin Wu; Weinv Fan; Changcheng Shi; Changcheng Shi; Changcheng Shi; Guokun Zuo; Guokun Zuo; Guokun Zuo

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2024.1337504

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Feb 2024)

Effects of rhythmic visual cues on cortical activation and functional connectivity features during stepping: an fNIRS study

Jiajia Wu,
Jiajia Wu,
Jiajia Wu,
Huilin Zhou,
Huilin Zhou,
Hao Chen,
Hao Chen,
Hao Chen,
Wensong Jiang,
Wensong Jiang,
Wensong Jiang,
Xuelian Wang,
Xuelian Wang,
Xuelian Wang,
Tao Meng,
Tao Meng,
Tao Meng,
Chaowen Wu,
Chaowen Wu,
Chaowen Wu,
Li Li,
Yuemin Wu,
Weinv Fan,
Changcheng Shi,
Changcheng Shi,
Changcheng Shi,
Guokun Zuo,
Guokun Zuo,
Guokun Zuo

Affiliations

Jiajia Wu: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Jiajia Wu: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Jiajia Wu: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Huilin Zhou: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Huilin Zhou: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Hao Chen: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Hao Chen: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Hao Chen: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Wensong Jiang: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Wensong Jiang: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Wensong Jiang: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Xuelian Wang: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Xuelian Wang: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Xuelian Wang: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Tao Meng: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Tao Meng: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Tao Meng: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Chaowen Wu: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Chaowen Wu: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Chaowen Wu: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Li Li: Department of Neurology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Yuemin Wu: Department of Neurology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Weinv Fan: Department of Neurology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Changcheng Shi: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Changcheng Shi: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Changcheng Shi: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Guokun Zuo: Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Guokun Zuo: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Guokun Zuo: Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1337504
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18

Abstract

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IntroductionRhythmic visual cues (RVCs) may influence gait initiation by modulating cognition resources. However, it is unknown how RVCs modulate cognitive resources allocation during gait movements. This study focused on investigating the effects of RVCs on cortical hemodynamic response features during stepping to evaluate the changes of cognitive resources.MethodsWe recorded cerebral hemoglobin concentration changes of 14 channels in 17 healthy subjects using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during stepping tasks under exposure to RVCs and non-rhythmic visual cues (NRVCs). We reported mean oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration changes, β-values, and functional connectivity (FC) between channels.ResultsThe results showed that, the RVC conditions revealed lower HbO responses compared to the NRVC conditions during the preparation and early stepping. Correspondingly, the β-values reflected that RVCs elicited lower hemodynamic responses than NRVCs, and there was a decreasing trend in stimulus-evoked cortical activation as the task progressed. However, the FC between channels were stronger under RVCs than under NRVCs during the stepping progress, and there were more significant differences in FC during the early stepping.DiscussionIn conclusion, there were lower cognitive demand and stronger FC under RVC conditions than NRVC conditions, which indicated higher efficiency of cognitive resources allocation during stepping tasks. This study may provide a new insight for further understanding the mechanism on how RVCs alleviate freezing of gait.

Published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

ISSN: 1662-5161 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/human_neuroscience

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