Prefrontal oxygenation is quantified with time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy: effect of sex on baseline oxygenation and the response during exercise.

With the use of time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy that enables quantitative analysis of optical properties and oxygenation in cerebral tissues and thereby subject-to-subject comparisons in the variables, this study examined the influence of sex on baseline optical properties and oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the responses during cycling exercise. Absolute levels of oxygenated- and deoxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb and Deoxy-Hb) in bilateral PFC were measured at rest and during unilateral cycling at low and moderate intensity in young participants (8 women and 10 men). Unilateral cycling was utilized to evaluate no lateralization of the prefrontal oxygenation responses during exercise.

Exaggerated renal sympathetic nerve and pressor responses during spontaneously occurring motor activity in hypertensive rats.

Stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region elicits exaggerated sympathetic nerve and pressor responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) as compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). This suggests that central command or its influence on vasomotor centers is augmented in hypertension. The decerebrate animal model possesses an ability to evoke intermittent bouts of spontaneously occurring motor activity (SpMA) and generates cardiovascular responses associated with the SpMA.

Central command suppresses pressor-evoked bradycardia at the onset of voluntary standing up in conscious cats.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Standing up can cause hypotension and tachycardia. Accumulated evidence poses the simple question, does the cardiac baroreflex operate at the onset of standing up? If the cardiac baroreflex is suppressed, what mechanism is responsible for baroreflex inhibition? What is the main finding and its importance? In cats, we found blunting of cardiac baroreflex sensitivity in the pressor range at the onset of voluntary hindlimb standing, but not of passive hindlimb standing. This finding suggests that central command suppresses pressor-evoked bradycardia at the onset of standing up, probably in advance, to prevent or buffer orthostatic hypotension.

Central modulation of cardiac baroreflex moment-to-moment sensitivity during treadmill exercise in conscious cats.

It remains undetermined whether the cardiac component of the entire arterial baroreflex is blunted even at the onset of low-intensity exercise. We sought to examine the moment-to-moment sensitivity of the cardiac baroreflex during walking at different speeds and the presumed mechanisms responsible for baroreflex modulation in conscious cats. Arterial baroreflex sensitivity for heart rate was estimated from the baroreflex ratio between changes in systolic arterial blood pressure and heart rate and from the slope of the baroreflex curve between the cardiovascular responses to brief occlusion of the abdominal aorta.

Regional difference in prefrontal oxygenation before and during overground walking in humans: a wearable multichannel NIRS study.

Using wireless multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy, regional difference in cortical activity over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was examined before and during overground walking and in response to changes in speed and cognitive demand. Oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb) as index of cortical activity in ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC), dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC), and frontopolar cortex (FPC) was measured in 14 subjects, whereas heart rate was measured as estimation of exercise intensity in six subjects. The impact of mental imagery on prefrontal Oxy-Hb was also explored.

Central command-related increases in blood velocity of anterior cerebral artery and prefrontal oxygenation at the onset of voluntary tapping.

The anterior cerebral artery (ACA) supplies blood predominantly to the frontal lobe including the prefrontal cortex. Our laboratory reported that prefrontal oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb) increased before and at exercise onset, as long as exercise is arbitrarily started. Moreover, the increased prefrontal oxygenation seems independent of both exercise intensity and muscle mass.

Increased prefrontal oxygenation prior to and at the onset of over-ground locomotion in humans.

Our laboratory has reported with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) that prefrontal oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb), measured as index of regional cerebral blood flow, increased before and at the onset of arbitrary (i.e., noncued) ergometer exercise in a laboratory environment.

Increased oxygenation in the non-contracting forearm muscle during contralateral skilful hand movement.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? When performing skilful hand movement, motor command descends especially towards distal arm muscles. Does central command evoke a vascular response selectively in the distal arm muscles during skilful hand movement? What is the main finding and its importance? We found, using near-infrared spectroscopy, that unilateral skilful hand movement evoked a greater increase in oxygenation of the contralateral forearm muscle compared with that of the upper arm muscles. Mental imagery of the hand movement also increased oxygenation of the forearm muscle.

Pivotal role of the ventral tegmental area in spontaneous motor activity and concomitant cardiovascular responses in decerebrate rats.

Central command, a feedforward signal from higher brain centers, regulates the cardiovascular system in association with exercise. Previous evidence suggests that nucleus (or nuclei) around the midbrain may contribute to generating spontaneous motor activity and concomitant cardiovascular responses. To examine which area within the midbrain is important for the spontaneous and synchronized responses, 18 rats were decerebrated at three levels (pre-midbrain, rostroventral midbrain, and caudal midbrain levels) and paralyzed with a neuromuscular blocker.

Deactivation of the prefrontal cortex during exposure to pleasantly-charged emotional challenge.

Our laboratory reported that facial skin blood flow may serve as a sensitive tool to assess an emotional status and that both prefrontal oxygenation (as index of regional cerebral blood flow) and facial skin blood flow decrease during positively-charged emotional stimulation, without changing hand skin blood flow and arterial pressure. However, the focal location of the prefrontal responses in concentration of oxygenated haemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) that correlate with peripheral autonomic reaction remained unknown. This study was undertaken using 22-channel near-infrared spectroscopy to reveal spatial distribution of the responses in Oxy-Hb within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during emotionally-charged audiovisual stimulation.

Feedforward- and motor effort-dependent increase in prefrontal oxygenation during voluntary one-armed cranking.

Key Points: Some cortical areas are believed to transmit a descending signal in association with motor intention and/or effort that regulates the cardiovascular system during exercise (termed central command). However, there was no evidence for the specific cortical area responding prior to arbitrary motor execution and in proportion to the motor effort. Using a multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy system, we found that the oxygenation of the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortices on the right side increases in a feedforward- and motor effort-dependent manner during voluntary one-armed cranking with the right arm.

An increase in prefrontal oxygenation at the start of voluntary cycling exercise was observed independently of exercise effort and muscle mass.

Purpose: We have reported using near-infrared spectroscopy that an increase in prefrontal oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb) at the start of cycling exercise has relation to central command, defined as a feedforward signal descending from higher brain centers. The final output of central command evokes the exercise effort-dependent cardiovascular responses. If the prefrontal cortex may output the final signal of central command toward the autonomic nervous system, the prefrontal oxygenation should increase depending on exercise effort.

Decreased prefrontal oxygenation elicited by stimulation of limb mechanosensitive afferents during cycling exercise.

Our laboratory reported using near-infrared spectroscopy that feedback from limb mechanoafferents may decrease prefrontal oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb) during the late period of voluntary and passive cycling. To test the hypothesis that the decreased Oxy-Hb of the prefrontal cortex would be augmented depending on the extent of limb mechanoafferent input, the prefrontal Oxy-Hb response was measured during motor-driven one- and two-legged passive cycling for 1 min at various revolutions of pedal movement in 19 subjects. Furthermore, we examined whether calculated tissue oxygenation index (TOI) decreased during passive cycling as the Oxy-Hb did, simultaneously assessing blood flows of extracranial cutaneous tissue and the common and internal carotid arteries (CCA and ICA) with laser and ultrasound Doppler flowmetry.

Incremental rate of prefrontal oxygenation determines performance speed during cognitive Stroop test: the effect of ageing.

Cognitive function declines with age. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of cognitive performance, however, remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that an incremental rate of prefrontal oxygenation during a cognitive Stroop test decreases in progress of ageing, resulting in a slowdown of cognitive performance.

Prefrontal oxygenation correlates to the responses in facial skin blood flows during exposure to pleasantly charged movie.

Our laboratory reported that facial skin blood flow may serve as a sensitive tool to assess an emotional status. Cerebral neural correlates during emotional interventions should be sought in relation to the changes in facial skin blood flow. To test the hypothesis that prefrontal activity has positive relation to the changes in facial skin blood flow during emotionally charged stimulation, we examined the dynamic changes in prefrontal oxygenation (with near-infrared spectroscopy) and facial skin blood flows (with two-dimensional laser speckle and Doppler flowmetry) during emotionally charged audiovisual challenges for 2 min (by viewing comedy, landscape, and horror movie) in 14 subjects.

Central command increases muscular oxygenation of the non-exercising arm at the early period of voluntary one-armed cranking.

This study aimed to examine whether central command increases oxygenation in non-contracting arm muscles during contralateral one-armed cranking and whether the oxygenation response caused by central command differs among skeletal muscles of the non-exercising upper limb. In 13 male subjects, the relative changes in oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb) of the non-contracting arm muscles [the anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, biceps brachii, and extensor carpi radialis (ECR)] were measured during voluntary one-armed cranking (intensity, 35-40% of maximal voluntary effort) and mental imagery of the one-armed exercise for 1 min. Voluntary one-armed cranking increased (<0.

Facial skin blood flow responses during exposures to emotionally charged movies.

The changes in regional facial skin blood flow and vascular conductance have been assessed for the first time with noninvasive two-dimensional laser speckle flowmetry during audiovisually elicited emotional challenges for 2 min (comedy, landscape, and horror movie) in 12 subjects. Limb skin blood flow and vascular conductance and systemic cardiovascular variables were simultaneously measured. The extents of pleasantness and consciousness for each emotional stimulus were estimated by the subjective rating from -5 (the most unpleasant; the most unconscious) to +5 (the most pleasant; the most conscious).

Central command does not suppress baroreflex control of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity at the onset of spontaneous motor activity in the decerebrate cat.

Our laboratory has reported that central command blunts the sensitivity of the aortic baroreceptor-heart rate (HR) reflex at the onset of voluntary static exercise in animals. We have examined whether baroreflex control of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA) and/or cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity are altered at the onset of spontaneously occurring motor behavior, which was monitored with tibial nerve activity in paralyzed, decerebrate cats. CSNA exhibited a peak increase (126 ± 17%) immediately after exercise onset, followed by increases in HR and mean arterial pressure (MAP).

The prefrontal oxygenation and ventilatory responses at start of one-legged cycling exercise have relation to central command.

When performing exercise arbitrarily, activation of central command should start before the onset of exercise, but when exercise is forced to start with cue, activation of central command should be delayed. We examined whether the in-advance activation of central command influenced the ventilatory response and reflected in the prefrontal oxygenation, by comparing the responses during exercise with arbitrary and cued start. The breath-by-breath respiratory variables and the prefrontal oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb) were measured during one-legged cycling.

Central command generated prior to arbitrary motor execution induces muscle vasodilatation at the beginning of dynamic exercise.

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of central command, generated prior to arbitrary motor execution, in cardiovascular and muscle blood flow regulation during exercise. Thirty two subjects performed 30 s of two-legged cycling or 1 min of one-legged cycling (66 ± 4% and 35% of the maximal exercise intensity, respectively), which was started arbitrarily or abruptly by a verbal cue (arbitrary vs. cued start).

Cardiac parasympathetic outflow during dynamic exercise in humans estimated from power spectral analysis of P-P interval variability.

What is the central question of this study? Should we use the high-frequency (HF) component of P-P interval as an index of cardiac parasympathetic nerve activity during moderate exercise? What is the main finding and its importance? The HF component of P-P interval variability remained even at a heart rate of 120-140 beats min(-1) and was further reduced by atropine, indicating incomplete cardiac vagal withdrawal during moderate exercise. The HF component of R-R interval is invalid as an estimate of cardiac parasympathetic outflow during moderate exercise; instead, the HF component of P-P interval variability should be used. The high-frequency (HF) component of R-R interval variability has been widely used as an indirect estimate of cardiac parasympathetic (vagal) outflow to the sino-atrial node of the heart.

Increased oxygenation of the cerebral prefrontal cortex prior to the onset of voluntary exercise in humans.

To determine whether output from the forebrain (termed central command) may descend early enough to increase cardiac and renal sympathetic outflows at the onset of voluntary exercise, we examined the changes in regional tissue blood flows of bilateral prefrontal cortices with near-infrared spectroscopy, precisely identifying the onset of voluntary ergometer 30-s exercise at 41 ± 2% of the maximal exercise intensity in humans. Prefrontal oxygenated-hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration was measured as index of regional blood flow unless deoxygenated-hemoglobin concentration remained unchanged. Prefrontal Oxy-Hb concentration increased significantly (P < 0.

Differential contribution of aortic and carotid sinus baroreflexes to control of heart rate and renal sympathetic nerve activity.

We examined the roles of aortic and carotid sinus baroreceptors in control of heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in 17 decerebrate rats. The baroreflex curves between the changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and HR or RSNA in response to intravenous injection of phenylephrine (10-20 μg/kg) or nitroprusside (10 μg/kg) were identified before and following sequential denervation of all four baroafferent nerves. The slope of the MAP-HR curve in the pressor range was decreased (P < 0.

Stimulation of the mesencephalic ventral tegmental area blunts the sensitivity of cardiac baroreflex in decerebrate cats.

We have examined for the first time whether electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic ventral tegmental area (VTA) or the substantia nigra (SN) was capable of suppressing cardiac baroreflex sensitivity in decerebrate cats. After decerebration was performed by electrocoagulation at the precollicular-premammillary level and inhalation anesthesia was stopped, the animals were able to show spontaneous motor activity intermittently. Electrical stimulations of the mesencephalic areas (the VTA and SN) for 30s were conducted with a monopolar tungsten microelectrode (current intensity of pulse trains, 50-100 μA; frequency, 40-50 Hz; pulse duration, 0.