Non-invasive Optical Low-frequency Oscillation Study of the Prefrontal Cortex Based on fNIRS

The investigators aimed to investigate the effects of different cognitive load tasks (1-back, 2-back, 3-back) on low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) in the prefrontal cortex of healthy young individuals, analyze the relationship between LFO parameters (power, peak amplitude, peak frequency) and behavioral performance (reaction time, accuracy), and validate the feasibility of using LFOs as a quantitative measure of brain resting-state activity and a sensitive indicator of cognitive load.Low-frequency oscillations (LFO, 0.05-0.15 Hz) are a core feature of cerebral hemodynamics and are closely related to neural activity, blood pressure regulation, and metabolic function. Existing studies suggest that LFO may be influenced by cognitive load during mental tasks, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), with its advantages of non-invasiveness, portability, and high temporal resolution, enables precise monitoring of hemodynamic parameters in the prefrontal cortex, including changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations (Δ[oxy-Hb], Δ[deoxy-Hb]). This study combines the N-back working memory task to investigate how cognitive load modulates LFO, offering a novel approach for assessing brain function.In this study, the investigators used a portable 16-channel continuous-wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system to measure dynamic changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemodynamic parameters-Δ[oxy-Hb], Δ[deoxy-Hb], and Δ[tot-Hb]-in 48 healthy participants under varying task loads. The investigators then analyzed low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) based on the detected hemodynamic parameter fluctuations, following established methodologies from prior research. Using Welch's method, LFOs were extracted from power spectral density (PSD) of different hemodynamic parameters across three task conditions (1-back, 2-back, and 3-back). The principle of fNIRS relies on near-infrared light penetrating the skull and brain, being absorbed by chromophores [HbO₂] and [Hb] with distinct absorption spectra. Assuming constant scattering and applying the modified Beer-Lambert law during calculations, sensitive light intensity detectors can detect concentration changes of these chromophores within the subject's brain tissue. The experimental setup consisted of a 4.4 cm × 15 cm sensor array distributed across the forehead, a dedicated data acquisition control box with a sampling rate of 3.3 Hz, and a computer for data storage and analysis software. The current flexible sensor comprises four light sources and ten detectors. The light sources include three built-in LEDs with peak wavelengths at 735 nm, 805 nm, and 850 nm, while the detectors are designed to image the sub-frontal cortical regions (dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortices). The distance between each source and its surrounding detectors is 2.89 cm, enabling hemodynamic measurements at depths of 2-3 cm beneath the scalp, focusing primarily on the cerebral cortex. Each light source is arranged in an X-shape with four adjacent detectors, where the source is centered and detectors positioned at the corners, forming channels connecting each source to individual detectors. The prefrontal cortex is a region strongly associated with cognitive processing and plays a critical role in working memory tasks. Task load was implemented through working memory tasks-a mechanism by which the brain temporarily processes and stores information crucial for handling complex cognitive demands. Understanding how the amplitude of hemodynamic oscillations is modulated by different cognitive loads is significant, as microvascular blood flow is regulated by myogenic mechanisms. These foundational insights will help improve the analysis and interpretation of hemodynamic neuroimaging data. This study employs fNIRS, a non-invasive neuroimaging technique highly sensitive to microvascular activity, to investigate the interactive effects of cognitive load on brain hemodynamic LFOs.