EEG signals during mouth breathing in a working memory task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• Continuous mouth breathing is linked to physical deformities and impaired learning.
• Limited research exists on the correlation between mouth breathing and cognitive function.
• This study investigates electroencephalography (EEG) changes during mouth breathing while performing cognitive tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine alterations in brain activity during mouth breathing versus nose breathing.
• To correlate EEG findings with cognitive task performance.
• To explore the physiological underpinnings of these observed brain activity changes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 32-channel electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain waves in 20 subjects.
• Measured brain activity during resting state and n-back tasks (0-back, 2-back).
• Analyzed EEG frequencies (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma) using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and assessed physiological parameters (SpO2, ETCO2, respiratory rate).

Main Results:

• Mouth breathing showed lower theta and alpha wave power at rest compared to nose breathing.
• Alpha wave power was reduced during 0-back and 2-back tasks when mouth breathing.
• Beta and gamma wave powers were lower during the 2-back task with mouth breathing, despite no significant behavioral differences in accuracy or response time.

Conclusions:

• Mouth breathing induces distinct brain activity patterns in cognitive regions compared to nose breathing.
• Decreased oxygen saturation during mouth breathing is a potential cause for these brain activity alterations.
• Mouth breathing can be a significant factor influencing cognitive function outcomes.