The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging
BackgroundFace masks are widely used in daily life because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of wearing face masks on brain functions by using resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI).MethodsScanning data from 15 healthy subjects (46.20 ± 6.67 years) were...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1102335/full |
| _version_ | 1827944057420120064 |
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| author | Xiaomeng Wu Lifei Ma Qiufeng Yin Ming Liu Kyle Wu Dengbin Wang |
| author_facet | Xiaomeng Wu Lifei Ma Qiufeng Yin Ming Liu Kyle Wu Dengbin Wang |
| author_sort | Xiaomeng Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundFace masks are widely used in daily life because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of wearing face masks on brain functions by using resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI).MethodsScanning data from 15 healthy subjects (46.20 ± 6.67 years) were collected in this study. Each subject underwent RS-fMRI scans under two comparative conditions, wearing a KN95 mask and natural breathing (no mask). The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and functional connectivity under the two conditions were analyzed and then compared using the paired t-test.ResultsCompared with those of the no-mask condition, the ALFF activities when wearing masks were increased significantly in the right middle frontal gyrus, bilateral precuneus, right superior marginal gyrus, left inferior parietal gyrus, and left supplementary motor area and decreased significantly in the anterior cingulate gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral lingual gyrus, and bilateral calcarine cortex (p < 0.05). Taking the posterior cingulate cortex area as a seed point, the correlations with the occipital cortex, prefrontal lobe, and motor sensory cortex were sensitive to wearing masks compared with not wearing masks (p < 0.05). Taking the medial prefrontal cortex region as a seed point, the functional connectivity with the bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral motor sensory cortex, and occipital lobe was influenced by wearing a KN95 mask (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that wearing a KN95 face mask can cause short-term changes in human resting brain function. Both local neural activities and functional connectivity in brain regions were sensitive to mask wearing. However, the neural mechanism causing these changes and its impact on cognitive function still need further investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:24:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-398db073ecce44e694016ed3c48fa5e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:24:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj.art-398db073ecce44e694016ed3c48fa5e02023-05-19T13:54:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952023-05-011410.3389/fneur.2023.11023351102335The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imagingXiaomeng Wu0Lifei Ma1Qiufeng Yin2Ming Liu3Kyle Wu4Dengbin Wang5Philips (China) Investment Co., Ltd, Shanghai, ChinaPhilips (China) Investment Co., Ltd, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaPhilips (China) Investment Co., Ltd, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundFace masks are widely used in daily life because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of wearing face masks on brain functions by using resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI).MethodsScanning data from 15 healthy subjects (46.20 ± 6.67 years) were collected in this study. Each subject underwent RS-fMRI scans under two comparative conditions, wearing a KN95 mask and natural breathing (no mask). The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and functional connectivity under the two conditions were analyzed and then compared using the paired t-test.ResultsCompared with those of the no-mask condition, the ALFF activities when wearing masks were increased significantly in the right middle frontal gyrus, bilateral precuneus, right superior marginal gyrus, left inferior parietal gyrus, and left supplementary motor area and decreased significantly in the anterior cingulate gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral lingual gyrus, and bilateral calcarine cortex (p < 0.05). Taking the posterior cingulate cortex area as a seed point, the correlations with the occipital cortex, prefrontal lobe, and motor sensory cortex were sensitive to wearing masks compared with not wearing masks (p < 0.05). Taking the medial prefrontal cortex region as a seed point, the functional connectivity with the bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral motor sensory cortex, and occipital lobe was influenced by wearing a KN95 mask (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that wearing a KN95 face mask can cause short-term changes in human resting brain function. Both local neural activities and functional connectivity in brain regions were sensitive to mask wearing. However, the neural mechanism causing these changes and its impact on cognitive function still need further investigation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1102335/fullface masksresting state fMRIbrain functionMRIbrain |
| spellingShingle | Xiaomeng Wu Lifei Ma Qiufeng Yin Ming Liu Kyle Wu Dengbin Wang The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging Frontiers in Neurology face masks resting state fMRI brain function MRI brain |
| title | The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| title_full | The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| title_fullStr | The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| title_short | The impact of wearing a KN95 face mask on human brain function: evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| title_sort | impact of wearing a kn95 face mask on human brain function evidence from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| topic | face masks resting state fMRI brain function MRI brain |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1102335/full |
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