Activation of deep-brain functions by using a wearable head/neck cooling system for maintenance of high intellectual work productivity

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25420236
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Intelligent mechanics/Mechanical systems
• Research Institution: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
• Principal Investigator: KATAGIRI YOSHITADA 国立研究開発法人情報通信研究機構, 未来ICT研究所グリーンICTデバイス先端開発センター, 研究マネージャー (60462876)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KAWAHARA YASUHIRO 放送大学, 教養学部, 准教授 (10422403)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKADA SATOSHI 神戸大学, 大学院保険学研究科, 教授 (10216658) ; KAWAMATA TOSHIO 神戸大学, 大学院保険学研究科, 教授 (70214690)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 頭頸部冷却 / 暑熱ストレス / 注意ネットワーク / モノアミン神経 / 前頭前皮質 / 後頭部脳波アルファ波 / エラー処理 / 事象関連深部脳活動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For preventing stress-induced decline in intellectual work productivity, the present study aimed to neurophysiologically investigate how decreasing the deep-brain activity (DBA) index degrades attentiveness and test how head/neck cooling contributes to maintenance of the activity in hot environments or under the high-load conditions. We found that high stationary values and synchronous up-and-down changes of the DBA index are essential for maintenance of high attentiveness. We have shown that the head/neck cold stimuli support this maintenance by improvement in the DBA index. We have also clarified the condition to obtain the maximal DBA index for each individual associated with psychological measures.

Free Research Field

人間情報科学