Stroop test実施中の中高年線維筋痛症患者における前頭前野の活動について

[Purpose] We measured prefrontal cortex activity during the Stroop test in middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients and middle- and old-aged healthy subjects using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and examined and compared the results. [Participants and Methods] The Stroop test was performed in two groups of 10 middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients (experimental group) and 29 middle- and old-aged healthy subjects (control group), and prefrontal cortex activity was measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Oxy-Hb values and Δoxy-Hb values representing task-induced deactivation were compared in two groups and three prefrontal regions, i.e., the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the frontal pole. [Results] During the Stroop test, oxy-Hb values in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were significantly higher in the middle- and old-aged healthy subjects than in middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients. The Δoxy-Hb value in the frontal pole of the middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients tended to be higher than those in the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. [Conclusion] During the Stroop test, middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients did not show prefrontal cortex activity similar to that of middle- and old-aged healthy subjects; furthermore they also exhibited reduced inhibitory function of the default mode network.