Preferred Pace Tapping Activates the Frontal Lobe

抄録

Background and Aims : The purpose of the present study was to compare the activity of the frontal lobe when performing tasks at two paces by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods : Fifty healthy students from A University participated in the study. Oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations (Δ[oxy-Hb]) were monitored during 30s finger-tapping with the non-dominant hand. There were two paces for finger-tapping : one pace the subject decided by themselves and the other pace given by metronome. The subjects answered a questionnaire after fNIRS measurement. Results : Performing tasks at Preferred Pace (PP) activates the frontal lobe of the orbito-frontal cortex area, and it tends to induce a feeling of difficulty, especially in females. Conclusions : Performing repetitive tasks at PP activates the frontal lobe. This finding will enable occupational therapists to select the subject's optimal pace according to the degree of attentional dysfunction.