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Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
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Prefrontal Hemodynamics of Physical Activity and Environmental Complexity During Cognitive Work
Ryan McKendrick1,2, Ranjana Mehta3,2, Hasan Ayaz4,2
1Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, California.
Human Factors
|February 2, 2017
Summary
Cognitive performance, particularly working memory, declines when engaging in physical activity outdoors. Increased environmental complexity and physical work reduce prefrontal cortex activity, impacting executive functions and attention distribution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- Previous research indicates cognitive-physical dual-tasking negatively impacts working memory performance.
- Neuroimaging studies show altered prefrontal cortex activity during combined cognitive and physical tasks.
- The influence of environmental context on cognitive-physical dual-tasking remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cognitive performance and brain activity during cognitive work combined with physical activity in natural environments.
- To investigate the impact of environmental complexity on cognitive-physical dual-tasking.
Main Methods:
- Utilized wireless functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor 13 participants.
- Assessed performance on an auditory 1-back task under three conditions: sitting, indoor walking, and outdoor walking.
- Measured changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex.
Main Results:
- Working memory performance significantly decreased when participants walked outdoors compared to sitting or walking indoors.
- Sitting during cognitive tasks increased oxygenated hemoglobin and decreased deoxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex.
- Walking, especially outdoors, reduced total hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex, with increased environmental complexity leading to reduced oxygenated and increased deoxygenated hemoglobin.
Conclusions:
- Wireless fNIRS effectively monitors cognitive states in real-world settings.
- Physical activity and environmental complexity compete with executive functions, leading to prefrontal cortex deactivation and impaired working memory.
- When working memory is critical, minimizing physical work and selective attention demands is essential for optimal performance.
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