Cold Stimuli on the Cheeks Activate the Left Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex and Enhance Cognitive Performance

Okura, Yoshifumi; Rikimaru, Tetsuya

doi:10.1007/s41465-020-00192-2

Cited by 4 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…On the contrary, some studies using very short duration cold exposure reported positive effects on concentration 36 or cognitive performance 37 . Although the comparison with our study is difficult, Okura et Rikimaru 38 also recently reported an improvement in executive function in a Stroop task by exposing only the cheeks to cold. In our study, the improvement in cognitive inhibition performance in the Stroop task may be related to a better state of concentration following the PBC session.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

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Impact of acute partial-body cryostimulation on cognitive performance, cerebral oxygenation, and cardiac autonomic activity

Theurot

Dugué

Douzi

et al. 2021

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We assessed the effects of a 3-min partial-body cryostimulation (PBC) exposure—where the whole body is exposed to extreme cold, except the head—on cognitive inhibition performance and the possible implications of parasympathetic cardiac control and cerebral oxygenation. In a randomized controlled counterbalanced cross-over design, eighteen healthy young adults (nine males and nine females) completed a cognitive Stroop task before and after one single session of PBC (3-min exposure at − 150 °C cold air) and a control condition (3 min at room temperature, 20 °C). During the cognitive task, heart rate variability (HRV) and cerebral oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex were measured using heart rate monitoring and near-infrared spectroscopy methods. We also recorded the cerebral oxygenation during the PBC session. Stroop performance after PBC exposure was enhanced (562.0 ± 40.2 ms) compared to pre-PBC (602.0 ± 56.4 ms; P < 0.042) in males only, accompanied by an increase (P < 0.05) in HRV indices of parasympathetic tone, in greater proportion in males compared to females. During PBC, cerebral oxygenation decreased in a similar proportion in males and females but the cerebral extraction (deoxyhemoglobin: ΔHHb) remained higher after exposure in males, only. These data demonstrate that a single PBC session enhances the cognitive inhibition performance on a Stroop task in males, partly mediated by a greater parasympathetic cardiac control and greater cerebral oxygenation. The effects of PBC on cognitive function seem different in females, possibly explained by a different sensitivity to cold stimulation.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

“…To date, only Patil et al 36 , reported an increase of alertness but a deterioration of short-term memory after a 3-min whole-body immersion in cold water. Furthermore, recent studies assessing the impact of head or face exposure to cold, recorded improvements in cognitive performance in stroop tasks 37 , 38 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of acute partial-body cryostimulation on cognitive performance, cerebral oxygenation, and cardiac autonomic activity

Theurot

Dugué

Douzi

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…Within these limitations however, ours and previous studies consistently show a beneficial impact of cryotherapy on cognitive function. Specifically, a recent investigation, using WBC in an older population with mild cognitive impairment, showed an improvement in immediate recall on Dem-Tect test and orientation on Test Your Memory task [28], while three studies in healthy populations, albeit using partial extreme cold application to the head [29], cheeks [30], and the body apart from the head [31], showed improvement in executive function, namely in cognitive inhibition measured by the Stroop task [28][29][30][31].…”

Section: Influence Of Wbc On Cognitive Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mechanisms related to cognitive improvement after short-term extreme cold application are largely unknown. The only study using fMRI showed an increase in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activity in response to cold stimuli, allowing some insight into potential mechanisms at the neural level [30]. Another study, which combined an assessment of cognitive and autonomic functions, proposed that improvement in cognitive performance was related to a greater parasympathetic cardiac control and a greater cerebral O2 extraction following a PBC session [31].…”

Section: Influence Of Wbc On Cognitive Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combination of whole body cryotherapy with static stretching exercises reduces fatigue and improves functioning of the autonomic nervous system in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

et al. 2022

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Background The aim of this study was to explore the tolerability and effect of static stretching (SS) and whole body cryotherapy (WBC) upon fatigue, daytime sleepiness, cognitive functioning and objective and subjective autonomic nervous system functioning in those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) compared to a control population. Methods Thirty-two CFS and eighteen healthy controls (HC) participated in 2 weeks of a SS + WBC programme. This programme was composed of five sessions per week, 10 sessions in total. Results A significant decrease in fatigue was noted in the CFS group in response to SS + WBC. Some domains of cognitive functioning (speed of processing visual information and set-shifting) also improved in response to SS + WBC in both CFS and HC groups. Our study has confirmed that WBC is well tolerated by those with CFS and leads to symptomatic improvements associated with changes in cardiovascular and autonomic function. Conclusions Given the preliminary data showing the beneficial effect of cryotherapy, its relative ease of application, good tolerability, and proven safety, therapy with cold exposure appears to be an approach worth attention. Further studies of cryotherapy as a potential treatment in CFS is important in the light of the lack of effective therapeutic options for these common and often disabling symptoms.

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“…methods, such as tooth brushing in the upper and lower dentitions and intra-oral cold stimuli with crushed ice cubes into the mouth, activate trigeminal nerves, thus enhancing human PFC region activity, particularly the left dorsolateral PFC (DL-PFC; demonstrated to play a distinct role in the enhanced cognitive performance). [11][12][13] Since gingival massage also stimulates trigeminal nerves, we hypothesized the possibility of a relationship between gingival massage and PFC region activation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Intra‐oral gingival massage activates human cerebral prefrontal cortex and enhances cognitive performance

Rikimaru

Okura

2023

Oral Science International

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AimOral care is associated with improved quality of life and changing cognitive performance in daily life. The association of trigeminal nerve‐stimulatory oral care methods, such as tooth brushing and intra‐oral cold stimuli, with cerebral activation has been studied. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of intra‐oral gingival massage on the cerebral prefrontal cortex (PFC) region activation and the changes in cognitive performance.MethodsA total of 18 men participated in this study. Near‐infrared spectroscopy was used to acquire data on the cerebral hemoglobin concentrations. Cognitive function was determined using the Stroop cognitive test performed with and without intra‐oral gingival massage stimulus.ResultsParticipants who performed intra‐oral gingival massage showed significantly increased blood flow in the cerebral PFC region, including the left dorsolateral PFC (DL‐PFC) region, compared with those who mimicked the movements of the gingival massage (control group) (p = 0.0104 by Wilcoxon signed rank method). Furthermore, gingival massage showed a significant association with increased cognitive performance (p < 0.0001 by Wilcoxon signed rank method) that coincided with the enhanced left DL‐PFC region activation (p = 0.039 by Fisher's exact probability test).ConclusionIntra‐oral gingival massage activated the cerebral PFC regions correlating with enhanced cognitive performance, suggesting that gingival massage may help improve cognitive performance.

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Cold Stimuli on the Cheeks Activate the Left Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex and Enhance Cognitive Performance

Cited by 4 publications

References 61 publications

Impact of acute partial-body cryostimulation on cognitive performance, cerebral oxygenation, and cardiac autonomic activity

Impact of acute partial-body cryostimulation on cognitive performance, cerebral oxygenation, and cardiac autonomic activity

Combination of whole body cryotherapy with static stretching exercises reduces fatigue and improves functioning of the autonomic nervous system in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Intra‐oral gingival massage activates human cerebral prefrontal cortex and enhances cognitive performance

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