Task-related oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex as a function of mask-wearing frequency: An empirical test using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Peter A. Hall , Mohammad Nazmus Sakib , Anna Hudson , Alkarim Billawala , Geoffrey T. Fong , Hasan Ayaz
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
Introduction of brain hypoxia by frequent mask-wearing is a concern voiced by some who resist masking mandates. Studies have examined acute effects of one-shot mask-wearing on peripheral and cerebral oxygenation in the laboratory, but not effects of everyday mask-wearing frequencies on task-related functional activation. The objective of the current study was to examine whether frequency of mask-wearing in daily life is associated with lower task-related brain oxygenation levels, and whether the magnitude of any such effects vary by age and sex.
Methods
Participants were 78 community-dwelling adults between the ages of 18 and 84 years, all of whom were vaccinated at the time of participation; 65.4% (n = 51) were female. Frequency of mask-wearing was assessed using survey questions on mask-wearing practice during an active COVID-19 mask mandate. Recordings of task-related cerebral oxygenation were taken during the completion of a simple reaction time task using 16-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Results
The psychomotor vigilance task elicited reliable increases in cerebral oxygenation within the right mid-frontal gyrus (F(1,61.345) = 15.975, p < .001). However, there was no significant association between everyday masking frequency and performance on the psychomotor vigilance task (b = 0.059, SE = 0.092 (95% CI [-0.122, 0.241]), t = .646, p = .520), nor any association between everyday masking frequency and task-related brain oxygenation on any measurement channel (all ps < .05).
Conclusions
Higher mask-wearing frequency in daily life is not associated with significantly lower levels of task-related brain oxygenation, or worse performance on a sustained attention task.
目的:经常戴口罩引起脑缺氧是一些反对戴口罩的人所关注的问题。在实验室中,研究已经检查了一次性戴口罩对外周和大脑氧合的急性影响,但没有检查日常戴口罩频率对任务相关功能激活的影响。目前这项研究的目的是研究日常生活中戴口罩的频率是否与较低的脑氧合水平有关,以及这种影响的程度是否因年龄和性别而异。研究对象为78名年龄在18岁至84岁之间的社区居民,他们在参与研究时均接种了疫苗;65.4% (n = 51)为女性。在COVID-19口罩强制执行期间,使用关于佩戴口罩实践的调查问题评估佩戴口罩的频率。在完成简单的反应时间任务时,使用16通道功能近红外光谱(fNIRS)记录任务相关的脑氧合。结果精神运动警觉性任务可引起右侧额叶中回脑氧合增加(F(1,61.345) = 15.975, p <措施)。然而,日常掩蔽频率与精神运动警觉性任务的表现之间没有显著关联(b = 0.059, SE = 0.092 (95% CI [-0.122, 0.241]), t = 0.646, p = 0.520),日常掩蔽频率与任何测量通道上的任务相关脑氧合之间也没有任何关联(所有ps <. 05)。结论日常生活中戴口罩频率高与任务相关脑氧合水平显著降低或持续注意力任务的表现不相关。