RESUMEN
Background: The primary purpose of this study was to preliminarily examine the effects of autonomic nervous system activity on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Recent studies have examined approaches to modulating autonomic activity using invasive and non-invasive methods, but the effects of changes in autonomic activity during cognitive tasks on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to examine changes in autonomic activity and blood oxygen saturation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during reading tasks induced by vagus nerve stimulation using a microcone patch. Methods: A cohort of 40 typically developing adults was enrolled in this study. We carefully examined changes in autonomic nervous system activity and blood oxygen saturation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a reading task in two conditions: with and without microcone patch stimulation. Results: Significant changes in brain activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortext due to microcone patch stimulation were confirmed. In addition, hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed specific changes in reading task-related blood oxygen saturation in the dorsolateral prefrontal region during microcone patch stimulation. Conclusions: It should be recognized that this study is a preliminary investigation and does not have immediate clinical applications. However, our results suggest that changes in autonomic nervous system activity induced by external vagal stimulation may affect activity in specific reading-related regions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Further research and evaluation are needed to fully understand the implications and potential applications of these findings.
RESUMEN
Language tasks must be based on perioperative neuropsychological evaluation during intraoperative language area mapping for the resection of brain tumor near the language cortex under awake craniotomy. However, flexibility is needed during surgery, because actions during surgery must change based on neurological symptoms and the presence or absence of aphasia. Here, we developed software to assess patients' ability to complete language tasks during surgery by using a tablet device; these language tasks serve as indicators of changes in patient status. We examined its effectiveness through the use of the software. In this case, the patient was a 68-year-old female. Before the surgery, the patient exhibited transcortical sensory aphasia. However, 1 day before the surgery, she exhibited worsening of language symptoms. We prepared a language task on the tablet device based on the patient's ability to complete the task before the surgery. The patient's wakefulness baseline was different from that predicted before the surgery. However, we were able to modify the surgical plan by using the results of the language task on the tablet device. In addition, we were able to finish mapping in approximately 90 minutes.
