Abstract:
Background Involuntary limb activation using functional electrical stimulation (FES) can improve unilateral spatial neglect. However, the impact of FES on brain activity related to spatial attention remains unclear. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine the effects of FES on spatial attention. Methodology In this interventional study, 13 healthy right-handed participants were asked to perform the Posner task for six minutes both before and after either FES or sham stimulation during each set, resulting in a total of two sets. FES was applied to the left forearm extensor muscles, with a frequency of 25 Hz, a pulse width of 100 μs, and the intensity adjusted to reach the motor threshold. Both the energization and pause times were set to five seconds. The Posner task was used to measure reaction time to a target appearing on a computer screen. Brain activity, indicated by oxygenated hemoglobin values, was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy with 24 probes according to the International 10-20 system method. Results In the left hemisphere, oxygenated hemoglobin values in the premotor and supplementary motor areas, primary somatosensory cortex, and somatosensory association areas were significantly higher after FES than after sham stimulation. In the right hemisphere, oxygenated hemoglobin values were significantly increased in the premotor, primary, and supplementary motor areas; in the supramarginal gyrus; and in the somatosensory association areas after FES. Reaction times in the Posner task did not differ significantly between the FES and sham conditions. Conclusions Collectively, these results suggest that FES of the upper limbs can activate the ventral pathway of the visual attention network and improve stimulus-driven attention. Activation of stimulus-driven attentional function could potentially contribute to symptom improvement in patients with unilateral spatial neglect.
摘要:
背景使用功能性电刺激(FES)的非自愿肢体激活可以改善单侧空间忽略。然而,FES对与空间注意力相关的大脑活动的影响尚不清楚。因此,在这项研究中,我们旨在研究FES对空间注意力的影响。方法学在这项介入研究中,要求13名健康的右撇子参与者在每组FES或假刺激之前和之后执行Posner任务6分钟,总共有两套。FES应用于左前臂伸肌,频率为25Hz,脉冲宽度为100μs,并调整强度以达到运动阈值。通电和暂停时间均设定为5秒。Posner任务用于测量出现在计算机屏幕上的目标的反应时间。大脑活动,用氧合血红蛋白值表示,根据国际10-20系统方法使用具有24个探针的近红外光谱法进行测量。结果在左半球,运动前和辅助运动区域的氧合血红蛋白值,初级体感皮层,FES后的体感关联面积明显高于假刺激后。在右半球,氧合血红蛋白值在运动前显著增加,小学,和辅助运动区;在上肢上回;以及FES后的体感关联区域。Posner任务中的反应时间在FES和假条件之间没有显着差异。结论集体,这些结果表明,上肢的FES可以激活视觉注意力网络的腹侧通路,并改善刺激驱动的注意力.刺激驱动的注意功能的激活可能有助于单侧空间忽视患者的症状改善。