Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive vascular-based functional neuroimaging technology that can assess, simultaneously from multiple cortical areas, concentration changes in oxygenated-deoxygenated hemoglobin at the level of the cortical microcirculation blood vessels. FNIRS, with its high degree of ecological validity and its very limited requirement of physical constraints to subjects, could represent a valid tool for monitoring cortical responses in the research field of neuroergonomics. In virtual reality (VR) real situations can be replicated with greater control than those obtainable in the real world. Therefore, VR is the ideal setting where studies about neuroergonomics applications can be performed. The aim of the present study was to investigate, by a 20-channel fNIRS system, the dorsolateral/ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC/VLPFC) in subjects while performing a demanding VR hand-controlled task (HCT). Considering the complexity of the HCT, its execution should require the attentional resources allocation and the integration of different executive functions. The HCT simulates the interaction with a real, remotely-driven, system operating in a critical environment. The hand movements were captured by a high spatial and temporal resolution 3-dimensional (3D) hand-sensing device, the LEAP motion controller, a gesture-based control interface that could be used in VR for tele-operated applications. Fifteen University students were asked to guide, with their right hand/forearm, a virtual ball (VB) over a virtual route (VROU) reproducing a 42 m narrow road including some critical points. The subjects tried to travel as long as possible without making VB fall. The distance traveled by the guided VB was 70.2 ± 37.2 m. The less skilled subjects failed several times in guiding the VB over the VROU. Nevertheless, a bilateral VLPFC activation, in response to the HCT execution, was observed in all the subjects. ![]() ![]() ![]() In the present preliminary study, 29 actively self-harming patients with BPD completed brain-imaging procedures probing activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during impulse control prior to beginning DBT and after 7 months of treatment. Patients that reduced their frequency of self-harm the most over treatment displayed. More Activate Prefrontal Cortex images. Working memory or short-term memory is related to the ability to pass intelligence tests and is stored in the parietal cortex. However, the role of other areas. Working memory or short-term memory is related to the ability to pass intelligence tests and is stored in the parietal cortex. However, the role of other areas. No correlation was found between the distance traveled by the guided VB and the corresponding cortical activation. These results confirm the suitability of fNIRS technology to objectively evaluate cortical hemodynamic changes occurring in VR environments. Future studies could give a contribution to a better understanding of the cognitive mechanisms underlying human performance either in expert or non-expert operators during the simulation of different demanding/fatiguing activities. Participants Fifteen University students (all males, age: 26.6 ± 2.9 years; level of education: 14.4 ± 2.1 years), without neurological or psychiatric illness and normal or corrected-to-normal vision were recruited in the study. In order to prevent any gender differences in emotional responses (Matud, ) and in visuo-motor abilities (Wang et al., ), only men were enrolled. To exclude left-handed subjects, all participants completed the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory assessing hand dominance. How stable is activation in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in adolescence? A study of emotional face processing across three measurements. Following a full explanation of the protocol and its non-invasiveness, and prior to the starting of the experimental procedure, a written informed consent was obtained from each participant. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the University Ethics Committee. Hand-Controlled Task (HCT) A VR HCT was implemented by integrating a LEAP Motion Controller ® with a real-time 3D engine. The LEAP provides both a 3D hand model and real-time hand tracking information for enabling subjects to transpose their hand movements within the virtual 3D HCT (Figure ). The LEAP is a small (1.3 cm × 3.2 cm × 8 cm) 3D sensor which uses two internal infra-red (IR) cameras and three IR light emitting diodes to detect objects within a dome of approximately 0.22 m 3 above it. Its spatial and temporal resolution is 1 mm and 15 ms, respectively. The LEAP, connected to a computer via a USB cable, is designed specifically to detect, in real-time, hand and finger motions and gestures, such as pinching fingers, closing hand, tapping, etc. This device, positioned under the palm center of the right hand at a distance of about 25 cm (Figure ), was utilized to: (1) capture the movements of the hand; (2) associate hand movements to a virtual hand model; and (3) translate the movements of the virtual hand model to a set of commands in order to drive a VB within a virtual environment. Experimental setting for the execution of a virtual reality (VR) hand-controlled task (HCT). The upper large image shows the subject with the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) probe holder while sitting in front of a PC, and the positioning. In the present study, the adopted virtual environment was aimed at simulating the driving action of a spider-like robot similar to the one developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
March 2018
Categories |