Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)

<b>Background:</b> Digital technologies offer innovative opportunities for recovering and maintaining intellectual and mental health. The use of a multitask approach that combines motor component with various cognitive tasks in a virtual environment can optimize cognitive and physical fu...

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Main Authors: Irina Tarasova, Olga Trubnikova, Darya Kupriyanova, Irina Kukhareva, Anastasia Sosnina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1755
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author Irina Tarasova
Olga Trubnikova
Darya Kupriyanova
Irina Kukhareva
Anastasia Sosnina
author_facet Irina Tarasova
Olga Trubnikova
Darya Kupriyanova
Irina Kukhareva
Anastasia Sosnina
author_sort Irina Tarasova
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Digital technologies offer innovative opportunities for recovering and maintaining intellectual and mental health. The use of a multitask approach that combines motor component with various cognitive tasks in a virtual environment can optimize cognitive and physical functions and improve the quality of life of cardiac surgery patients. This study aimed to localize current sources of theta and alpha power in patients who have undergone virtual multitask training (VMT) and a control group in the early postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). <b>Methods:</b> A total of 100 male CABG patients (mean age, 62.7 ± 7.62 years) were allocated to the VMT group (<i>n</i> = 50) or to the control group (<i>n</i> = 50). EEG was recorded in the eyes-closed resting state at baseline (2–3 days before CABG) and after VMT course or approximately 11–12 days after CABG (the control group). Power EEG analysis was conducted and frequency-domain standardized low-resolution tomography (sLORETA) was used to assess the effect of VMT on brain activity. <b>Results:</b> After VMT, patients demonstrated a significantly higher density of alpha-rhythm (7–9 Hz) current sources (t > −4.18; <i>p</i> < 0.026) in Brodmann area 30, parahippocampal, and limbic system structures compared to preoperative data. In contrast, the control group had a marked elevation in the density of theta-rhythm (3–5 Hz) current sources (t > −3.98; <i>p</i> < 0.017) in parieto-occipital areas in comparison to preoperative values. <b>Conclusions:</b> Virtual reality-based multitask training stimulated brain regions associated with spatial orientation and memory encoding. The findings of this study highlight the importance of neural mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of multitask interventions and will be useful for designing and conducting future studies involving VR multitask training.
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spelling doaj-art-49a0653ffb1944e4b98fa8ccf7525dad2025-08-20T03:36:03ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137175510.3390/biomedicines13071755Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)Irina Tarasova0Olga Trubnikova1Darya Kupriyanova2Irina Kukhareva3Anastasia Sosnina4Department of Clinical Cardiology, Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases, Academician LS Barbarash Blvd., 6, 650002 Kemerovo, RussiaDepartment of Clinical Cardiology, Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases, Academician LS Barbarash Blvd., 6, 650002 Kemerovo, RussiaDepartment of Clinical Cardiology, Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases, Academician LS Barbarash Blvd., 6, 650002 Kemerovo, RussiaDepartment of Clinical Cardiology, Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases, Academician LS Barbarash Blvd., 6, 650002 Kemerovo, RussiaDepartment of Clinical Cardiology, Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases, Academician LS Barbarash Blvd., 6, 650002 Kemerovo, Russia<b>Background:</b> Digital technologies offer innovative opportunities for recovering and maintaining intellectual and mental health. The use of a multitask approach that combines motor component with various cognitive tasks in a virtual environment can optimize cognitive and physical functions and improve the quality of life of cardiac surgery patients. This study aimed to localize current sources of theta and alpha power in patients who have undergone virtual multitask training (VMT) and a control group in the early postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). <b>Methods:</b> A total of 100 male CABG patients (mean age, 62.7 ± 7.62 years) were allocated to the VMT group (<i>n</i> = 50) or to the control group (<i>n</i> = 50). EEG was recorded in the eyes-closed resting state at baseline (2–3 days before CABG) and after VMT course or approximately 11–12 days after CABG (the control group). Power EEG analysis was conducted and frequency-domain standardized low-resolution tomography (sLORETA) was used to assess the effect of VMT on brain activity. <b>Results:</b> After VMT, patients demonstrated a significantly higher density of alpha-rhythm (7–9 Hz) current sources (t > −4.18; <i>p</i> < 0.026) in Brodmann area 30, parahippocampal, and limbic system structures compared to preoperative data. In contrast, the control group had a marked elevation in the density of theta-rhythm (3–5 Hz) current sources (t > −3.98; <i>p</i> < 0.017) in parieto-occipital areas in comparison to preoperative values. <b>Conclusions:</b> Virtual reality-based multitask training stimulated brain regions associated with spatial orientation and memory encoding. The findings of this study highlight the importance of neural mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of multitask interventions and will be useful for designing and conducting future studies involving VR multitask training.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1755virtual realitymultitask trainingpostoperative cognitive dysfunctioncoronary surgery
spellingShingle Irina Tarasova
Olga Trubnikova
Darya Kupriyanova
Irina Kukhareva
Anastasia Sosnina
Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)
Biomedicines
virtual reality
multitask training
postoperative cognitive dysfunction
coronary surgery
title Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)
title_full Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)
title_fullStr Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)
title_full_unstemmed Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)
title_short Neurophysiological Effects of Virtual Reality Multitask Training in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Study with Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA)
title_sort neurophysiological effects of virtual reality multitask training in cardiac surgery patients a study with standardized low resolution electromagnetic tomography sloreta
topic virtual reality
multitask training
postoperative cognitive dysfunction
coronary surgery
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1755
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