An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment
BackgroundEarly detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial for preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aims to explore alterations in brain co-functional connectivity between cognitively healthy individuals and those with cognitive impairment during a verbal fluency task (VFT) u...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1571964/full |
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| author | Can Duan Can Duan Yufei Chong Yufei Chong Jingyi Gong Jingyi Gong Qingqing Wu Jialing Sun Chanjuan Zheng Chanjuan Zheng Chanjuan Zheng Zhengliang Li Zhengliang Li Zhengliang Li Lirong Xia Zhen Cheng Peiwen Zhang Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia |
| author_facet | Can Duan Can Duan Yufei Chong Yufei Chong Jingyi Gong Jingyi Gong Qingqing Wu Jialing Sun Chanjuan Zheng Chanjuan Zheng Chanjuan Zheng Zhengliang Li Zhengliang Li Zhengliang Li Lirong Xia Zhen Cheng Peiwen Zhang Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia |
| author_sort | Can Duan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundEarly detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial for preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aims to explore alterations in brain co-functional connectivity between cognitively healthy individuals and those with cognitive impairment during a verbal fluency task (VFT) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The investigation examines changes in brain activation patterns in both MCI patients and healthy controls during the VFT and 1-back task, and identifies correlations between cognitive function and brain activation areas using fNIRS technology.MethodsThis study evaluated markers for screening MCI by performing the VFT and 1-back task using a 67-channel fNIRS to measure changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) levels in the bilateral prefrontal and temporal lobes of 108 healthy controls (HC) and 103 participants with MCI. The severity of patients’ symptoms was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, neuropsychiatric symptoms were evaluated with the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).ResultsCompared with the HC group, the MCI group showed a significant reduction in MoCA scores, with no significant differences in education level, PSQI, and SCL-90 scores. There was no significant difference in brain activation levels between the MCI and HC groups during the VFT. However, during the 1-back task, the MCI group exhibited significantly reduced activation levels in channels 33, 54, 49, and 47, as well as in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and frontal eye fields (FEF). Moreover, the mean HbO levels in these channels, DLPFC, and FEF during the 1-back task were found to be significantly correlated with MoCA scores.DiscussionWhen performing the VFT and 1-back task, our study found that patients with MCI exhibited reduced brain activity levels in the DLPFC and FEF only during the 1-back task. This diminished task-induced brain activity was significantly positively correlated with MoCA scores and was less influenced by mental health and sleep quality. The 1-back task may be a more optimal paradigm for the early detection of MCI compared to the VFT. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d3480b82c6fc4eaf8981413608c59ba8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d3480b82c6fc4eaf8981413608c59ba82025-08-20T02:27:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-05-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15719641571964An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairmentCan Duan0Can Duan1Yufei Chong2Yufei Chong3Jingyi Gong4Jingyi Gong5Qingqing Wu6Jialing Sun7Chanjuan Zheng8Chanjuan Zheng9Chanjuan Zheng10Zhengliang Li11Zhengliang Li12Zhengliang Li13Lirong Xia14Zhen Cheng15Peiwen Zhang16Wenguang Xia17Wenguang Xia18Wenguang Xia19Wenguang Xia20College of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Xinhua Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine (Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine), Wuhan, ChinaRehabilitation Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Hubei Provincial Government (Hubei Rehabilitation Hospital), Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaCollege of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaCollege of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaCollege of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Xinhua Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine (Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine), Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaHubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Stroke Rehabilitation of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Xinhua Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine (Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine), Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaHubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Stroke Rehabilitation of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaCollege of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaRehabilitation Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Hubei Provincial Government (Hubei Rehabilitation Hospital), Wuhan, ChinaHubei Engineering Research Center of Neuromodulation Technology, Wuhan, ChinaHubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Stroke Rehabilitation of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, ChinaBackgroundEarly detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial for preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aims to explore alterations in brain co-functional connectivity between cognitively healthy individuals and those with cognitive impairment during a verbal fluency task (VFT) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The investigation examines changes in brain activation patterns in both MCI patients and healthy controls during the VFT and 1-back task, and identifies correlations between cognitive function and brain activation areas using fNIRS technology.MethodsThis study evaluated markers for screening MCI by performing the VFT and 1-back task using a 67-channel fNIRS to measure changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) levels in the bilateral prefrontal and temporal lobes of 108 healthy controls (HC) and 103 participants with MCI. The severity of patients’ symptoms was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, neuropsychiatric symptoms were evaluated with the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).ResultsCompared with the HC group, the MCI group showed a significant reduction in MoCA scores, with no significant differences in education level, PSQI, and SCL-90 scores. There was no significant difference in brain activation levels between the MCI and HC groups during the VFT. However, during the 1-back task, the MCI group exhibited significantly reduced activation levels in channels 33, 54, 49, and 47, as well as in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and frontal eye fields (FEF). Moreover, the mean HbO levels in these channels, DLPFC, and FEF during the 1-back task were found to be significantly correlated with MoCA scores.DiscussionWhen performing the VFT and 1-back task, our study found that patients with MCI exhibited reduced brain activity levels in the DLPFC and FEF only during the 1-back task. This diminished task-induced brain activity was significantly positively correlated with MoCA scores and was less influenced by mental health and sleep quality. The 1-back task may be a more optimal paradigm for the early detection of MCI compared to the VFT.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1571964/fullfunctional near-infrared spectroscopymild cognitive impairmentverbal fluency taskworking memoryneural degeneration |
| spellingShingle | Can Duan Can Duan Yufei Chong Yufei Chong Jingyi Gong Jingyi Gong Qingqing Wu Jialing Sun Chanjuan Zheng Chanjuan Zheng Chanjuan Zheng Zhengliang Li Zhengliang Li Zhengliang Li Lirong Xia Zhen Cheng Peiwen Zhang Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia Wenguang Xia An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment Frontiers in Neurology functional near-infrared spectroscopy mild cognitive impairment verbal fluency task working memory neural degeneration |
| title | An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment |
| title_full | An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment |
| title_fullStr | An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment |
| title_full_unstemmed | An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment |
| title_short | An fNIRS-based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n-back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment |
| title_sort | fnirs based investigation of cerebral hemodynamic responses during verbal fluency task and n back task in individuals with mild cognitive impairment |
| topic | functional near-infrared spectroscopy mild cognitive impairment verbal fluency task working memory neural degeneration |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1571964/full |
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