Detection of Emotional Sensitivity Using fNIRS Based Dynamic Functional Connectivity

Abstract

In this study, we proposed an analytical framework to identify dynamic task-based functional connectivity (FC) features as new biomarkers of emotional sensitivity in nursing students, by using a combination of unsupervised and supervised machine learning techniques. The dynamic FC was measured by functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), and computed using a sliding window correlation (SWC) analysis. A k-means clustering technique was applied to derive four recurring connectivity states. The states were characterized by both graph theory and semi-metric analysis. Occurrence probability and state transition were extracted as dynamic FC network features, and a Random Forest (RF) classifier was implemented to detect emotional sensitivity. The proposed method was trialled on 39 nursing students and 19 registered nurses during decisionmaking, where we assumed registered nurses have developed strategies to cope with emotional sensitivity. Emotional stimuli were selected from International Affective Digitized Sound System (IADS) database. Experiment results showed that registered nurses demonstrated single dominant connectivity state of taskrelevance, while nursing students displayed in two states and had higher level of task-irrelevant state connectivity. The results also showed that students were more susceptive to emotional stimuli, and the derived dynamic FC features provided a stronger discriminating power than heart rate variability (accuracy of 81.65% vs 71.03%) as biomarkers of emotional sensitivity. This work forms the first study to demonstrate the stability of fNIRS based dynamic FC states as a biomarker. In conclusion, the results support that the state distribution of dynamic FC could help reveal the differentiating factors between the nursing students and registered nurses during decision making, and it is anticipated that the biomarkers might be used as indicators when developing professional training related to emotional sensitivity.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhanced inhibitory control via increasing intrinsic prefrontal couplings

“…Notably, dynamic functional connectivity analyses also suggested that functional couplings (FCs) within prefrontal cortex including IFG, OFC, dlPFC and mPFC during the whole emotional inhibition task were significantly modulated by taVNS. This approach helps us quantify the experimental paradigm-based variations of brain functional networks affected by taVNS regardless of conditions (Tang et al ., 2021; Lu et al ., 2023). Among these couplings, taVNS significantly strengthened dlPFC-mPFC/ IFG/OFC/ dlPFC and OFC-IFG links in States1, 3 and 4, suggesting that such dlPFC- and OFC-related functional couplings played primary role in taVNS effects on emotional inhibitory processes.…”

“…This approach helps us quantify the experimental paradigm-based variations of brain functional networks affected by taVNS regardless of conditions (Tang et al, 2021;Lu et al, 2023). Among these couplings, taVNS significantly strengthened dlPFC-mPFC/ IFG/OFC/ dlPFC and OFC-IFG links in States1, 3 and 4, suggesting that such dlPFC-and OFC-related functional couplings played primary role in taVNS effects on emotional inhibitory processes.…”

Study of the Acute Stress Effects on Decision Making Using Electroencephalography and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: A Systematic Review

“…Coping with stressors often involves finding ways to manage and reduce the stress and anxiety they create through techniques such as time management, relaxation, or seeking support from others. In a study [72] the subjects had to perform mental arithmetic, auditory monitoring, visual monitoring, and phone number entry tasks all at the same time and separately to observe the different outcomes [70], [76], To mitigate the impact of the order, participants were randomly allocated to different sessions, with 50% experiencing the affective stimuli during one instance [75],Figure 3 shows some of the most commonly used decision-making tasks.…”

“…The baby rhythm song belongs to empathizing and is known for its calming qualities, whereas pop-punk is classified as systemizing because of its intense character [106]. Ten sound clips from the International Affective Digitized Sounds system (IADS) that were emotionally evocative (negative valence: 2.147 0.473; high arousal: 7.388 0.494) were presented alongside ten neutral sound clips in [75].…”

An fNIRS-Based Dynamic Functional Connectivity Analysis Method to Signify Functional Neurodegeneration of Parkinson’s Disease

“…Compared with the commonly used resting-state experiment, walking could promote more valuable signals of PD patients since gait disorder is common among PD patients and is considered as one of the primary disabling symptoms [28], [29]. Dynamic functional connectivity considers the temporal variations of brain networks and could capture the meaningful changes during walking [30], [31], [32], [33]. The dynamics of the brain are impacted by PD, which may lead to the deterioration of brain information transmission during walking [34], [35], [36].…”