Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarker
IntroductionAs burnout has become a global pandemic, there is a call for improved understanding and detection of alterations in brain functions related to it. We have previously reported challenges in executive functions (EFs) in daily life, especially in metacognition, in subjects with occupational...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1194714/full |
| _version_ | 1797668250422607872 |
|---|---|
| author | Mia Pihlaja Mia Pihlaja Jari Peräkylä Jari Peräkylä Emma-Helka Erkkilä Emilia Tapio Emilia Tapio Maiju Vertanen Maiju Vertanen Kaisa M. Hartikainen Kaisa M. Hartikainen |
| author_facet | Mia Pihlaja Mia Pihlaja Jari Peräkylä Jari Peräkylä Emma-Helka Erkkilä Emilia Tapio Emilia Tapio Maiju Vertanen Maiju Vertanen Kaisa M. Hartikainen Kaisa M. Hartikainen |
| author_sort | Mia Pihlaja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAs burnout has become a global pandemic, there is a call for improved understanding and detection of alterations in brain functions related to it. We have previously reported challenges in executive functions (EFs) in daily life, especially in metacognition, in subjects with occupational burnout, along with alterations in cardiac physiology. In the current study, we focused on the impact of burnout on brain physiology during a task requiring EF.MethodsFifty-four volunteers filled in inventories of burnout, depression, and EF in daily life (BBI-15, BDI, and BRIEF-A). Based on the BBI-15 score, subjects were divided into burnout and non-burnout groups. Subjects performed a Go/NoGo test (Executive RT test) engaging several EFs, while their EEG was recorded. The inventory scores, cognitive performance scores, and event-related potential (N2, P3) amplitudes, latencies, and interpeak latencies (IPLs) were compared between the groups.ResultsThere were significant differences in the BDI and BRIEF-A scores between the groups, with more symptoms of depression and challenges in daily life in the burnout group. There were no differences in objective performance measures in the EF task between the groups. However, centroparietal P3 amplitude was larger, and while there were no differences in N2 or P3 latencies, N2-P3 IPL was longer in the Go condition in the burnout than in non-burnout group. Both ERP measures correlated significantly with burnout symptoms. A regression model from centroparietal P3 amplitude and N2-P3 IPL predicted significantly both the BBI-15 score and the BRIEF-A metacognition index.DiscussionWe conclude that burnout is linked with challenges in EF in daily life and alterations in the underlying neural processes. While cognitive performance in the task was equal, electrophysiological measures differed between the groups. Prolonged N2-P3 IPL points toward slowed transition from one cognitive process to another. Increased P3 amplitude, on the other hand, reflects increased allocation of neural processing resources. This may be a compensatory mechanism, allowing for equal performance with controls. These electrophysiological measures, obtained during the EF task, show promise as brain physiology-based biomarkers of burnout, contributing to its improved and objective detection. In addition, these results indicate occupational burnout is linked with objective alterations in brain physiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:25:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8dcf801291754aa9adfd4f0e9654d6a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:25:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-8dcf801291754aa9adfd4f0e9654d6a22023-10-02T14:56:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612023-10-011710.3389/fnhum.2023.11947141194714Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarkerMia Pihlaja0Mia Pihlaja1Jari Peräkylä2Jari Peräkylä3Emma-Helka Erkkilä4Emilia Tapio5Emilia Tapio6Maiju Vertanen7Maiju Vertanen8Kaisa M. Hartikainen9Kaisa M. Hartikainen10Behavioral Neurology Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandBehavioral Neurology Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandBehavioral Neurology Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandBehavioral Neurology Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandBehavioral Neurology Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandBehavioral Neurology Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandIntroductionAs burnout has become a global pandemic, there is a call for improved understanding and detection of alterations in brain functions related to it. We have previously reported challenges in executive functions (EFs) in daily life, especially in metacognition, in subjects with occupational burnout, along with alterations in cardiac physiology. In the current study, we focused on the impact of burnout on brain physiology during a task requiring EF.MethodsFifty-four volunteers filled in inventories of burnout, depression, and EF in daily life (BBI-15, BDI, and BRIEF-A). Based on the BBI-15 score, subjects were divided into burnout and non-burnout groups. Subjects performed a Go/NoGo test (Executive RT test) engaging several EFs, while their EEG was recorded. The inventory scores, cognitive performance scores, and event-related potential (N2, P3) amplitudes, latencies, and interpeak latencies (IPLs) were compared between the groups.ResultsThere were significant differences in the BDI and BRIEF-A scores between the groups, with more symptoms of depression and challenges in daily life in the burnout group. There were no differences in objective performance measures in the EF task between the groups. However, centroparietal P3 amplitude was larger, and while there were no differences in N2 or P3 latencies, N2-P3 IPL was longer in the Go condition in the burnout than in non-burnout group. Both ERP measures correlated significantly with burnout symptoms. A regression model from centroparietal P3 amplitude and N2-P3 IPL predicted significantly both the BBI-15 score and the BRIEF-A metacognition index.DiscussionWe conclude that burnout is linked with challenges in EF in daily life and alterations in the underlying neural processes. While cognitive performance in the task was equal, electrophysiological measures differed between the groups. Prolonged N2-P3 IPL points toward slowed transition from one cognitive process to another. Increased P3 amplitude, on the other hand, reflects increased allocation of neural processing resources. This may be a compensatory mechanism, allowing for equal performance with controls. These electrophysiological measures, obtained during the EF task, show promise as brain physiology-based biomarkers of burnout, contributing to its improved and objective detection. In addition, these results indicate occupational burnout is linked with objective alterations in brain physiology.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1194714/fullbrainburnoutERPEEGexecutive functioncognitive control |
| spellingShingle | Mia Pihlaja Mia Pihlaja Jari Peräkylä Jari Peräkylä Emma-Helka Erkkilä Emilia Tapio Emilia Tapio Maiju Vertanen Maiju Vertanen Kaisa M. Hartikainen Kaisa M. Hartikainen Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarker Frontiers in Human Neuroscience brain burnout ERP EEG executive function cognitive control |
| title | Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarker |
| title_full | Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarker |
| title_fullStr | Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarker |
| title_full_unstemmed | Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarker |
| title_short | Altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout—Basis for a novel EEG biomarker |
| title_sort | altered neural processes underlying executive function in occupational burnout basis for a novel eeg biomarker |
| topic | brain burnout ERP EEG executive function cognitive control |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1194714/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT miapihlaja alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT miapihlaja alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT jariperakyla alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT jariperakyla alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT emmahelkaerkkila alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT emiliatapio alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT emiliatapio alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT maijuvertanen alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT maijuvertanen alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT kaisamhartikainen alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker AT kaisamhartikainen alteredneuralprocessesunderlyingexecutivefunctioninoccupationalburnoutbasisforanoveleegbiomarker |