The Physiologic Complexity of Prefrontal Oxygenation Dynamics Is Associated With Age and Executive Function: An
Yinglu Hong1, Junhong Zhou2,3, Wanting Yu2
1School of Sport Medicine and Physical Therapy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Summary
Aging reduces prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation complexity, impacting executive function. Lower complexity in older adults correlates with slower task performance, highlighting age-related hemodynamic changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation hemodynamics involve complex multiscale regulation.
- Aging may diminish the physiologic complexity of PFC oxygenation regulation.
- This study investigates age-related changes in PFC oxygenation complexity and its link to executive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the effects of age on PFC oxygenation complexity.
- To examine the relationship between PFC oxygenation complexity and executive n-back task performance.
Main Methods:
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured oxygenation (HbO2) and deoxygenation (HHb) in 24 younger and 27 older adults.
- Participants completed resting (blank), simple (IdX), and executive (2-back) tasks.
- Multiscale entropy analysis quantified signal complexity.
Main Results:
- Older adults showed significantly lower HbO2 and HHb complexity than younger adults.
- Both groups exhibited increased complexity during IdX and 2-back tasks compared to the blank task.
- Greater baseline complexity correlated with faster reaction times; increased complexity during tasks correlated with smaller reaction time increases.
Conclusions:
- PFC oxygenation complexity, measured by fNIRS, reflects aging's impact on prefrontal hemodynamics.
- Reduced complexity is associated with impaired executive function performance in older adults.
- fNIRS-based complexity metrics may serve as biomarkers for age-related cognitive and hemodynamic changes.
Keywords:
Executive functionFunctional near-infrared-spectroscopyMultiscale entropyPrefrontal cortex oxygenationMore Related Videos
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