Physiological mechanism of the Forehead NIRS response during mental load

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H02890
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Kansei informatics
• Research Institution: Dokkyo Medical University (2018); Osaka University (2016-2017)
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Toshimitsu 獨協医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (00250704)
• Research Collaborator: Kitazawa Shigeru
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 皮膚血流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our previous study (Takahashi et al., 2011) suggested that hemodynamics in the forehead skin vessels during mental load was affected by slight change in mental state, which was difficult to measure before. The aim of this study was to explore the central mechanism of autonomic nervous system involved in the dilation of the forehead skin vessels to mental load. In the results, the hemodynamics in the forehead skin vessels during mental load was unique compared to that of the fingertips or the other face sites. We also analyzed neural activity networks using the simultaneous recording data of brain function imaging method (fMRI, MEG), blood flow on the forehead skin vessels, and pupil diameter.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

前額部の近赤外分光法(NIRS)を用いた精神疾患の臨床検査では、言語課題時の前額部のNIRS波形による診断の補助法が確立しているが、一方でその前額部の信号が皮膚血流によるものが大半であるとの報告がある。本研究で、前額部の皮膚血流に精神状態を反映するとの仮説のもとに、心理負荷時の前額部皮膚血流信号を、他の身体部位の皮膚血流や種々の生理信号と同時計測することで、その生理学的機序の一端に迫ったことは、学術的に意義がある。また、「こころ」の状態を測るヒューマンインターフェースの新たな生理指標の提供という社会的な意義がある。