Kyung-Jin Lee1,2, Chan-A Park3, Yeong-Bae Lee1,2,4, Hang-Keun Kim1,5, Chang-Ki Kang1,2,6. 1. Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. 2. Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. 3. Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Neurology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. 6. Department of Radiological Science, College of Health Science, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
Background: Continuous mouth breathing results not only morphological deformations but also poor learning outcomes. However, there were few studies that observed correlations between mouth breathing and cognition. This study aimed at investigating the changes in brain activity during mouth breathing while the participant simultaneously performed a cognitive task using electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: Twenty subjects participated in this study, and EEG electrodes (32 channels, 250-Hz sampling rate) were placed on their scalp. Brain waves during a resting state and n-back tasks (0-back and 2-back) and physiological parameters such as SpO2, ETCO2, and the airway respiratory rate were measured. The pre-processed EEG signals were analyzed based on their frequencies as delta waves (0.5 ∼ 4 Hz), theta waves (4 ∼ 8 Hz), alpha waves (8 ∼ 13 Hz), beta waves (13 ∼ 30 Hz) and gamma waves (30 ∼ 50 Hz) using fast Fourier transform (FFT). Results: When compared with nose breathing, theta and alpha powers were lower during mouth breathing at rest and alpha wave presented low power at 0-back and 2-back tasks. Furthermore, beta and gamma waves exhibited low powers at 2-back task. However, the behavioral results (accuracy and response time) have no significant difference between two breathing methods (mouth and nose). Mouth breathing showed different brain activity patterns, compared to nose breathing, and these changes are related to cognitive regions. Conclusion: The reason for this change seems to relate to the decreased oxygen saturation during mouth breathing, suggesting that when cognitive abilities are required, mouth breathing can act as one of the variables that cause different outcomes in brain activities.
Background: Continuous mouth breathing results not only morphological deformations but also poor learning outcomes. However, there were few studies that observed correlations between mouth breathing and cognition. This study aimed at investigating the changes in brain activity during mouth breathing while the participant simultaneously performed a cognitive task using electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: Twenty subjects participated in this study, and EEG electrodes (32 channels, 250-Hz sampling rate) were placed on their scalp. Brain waves during a resting state and n-back tasks (0-back and 2-back) and physiological parameters such as SpO2, ETCO2, and the airway respiratory rate were measured. The pre-processed EEG signals were analyzed based on their frequencies as delta waves (0.5 ∼ 4 Hz), theta waves (4 ∼ 8 Hz), alpha waves (8 ∼ 13 Hz), beta waves (13 ∼ 30 Hz) and gamma waves (30 ∼ 50 Hz) using fast Fourier transform (FFT). Results: When compared with nose breathing, theta and alpha powers were lower during mouth breathing at rest and alpha wave presented low power at 0-back and 2-back tasks. Furthermore, beta and gamma waves exhibited low powers at 2-back task. However, the behavioral results (accuracy and response time) have no significant difference between two breathing methods (mouth and nose). Mouth breathing showed different brain activity patterns, compared to nose breathing, and these changes are related to cognitive regions. Conclusion: The reason for this change seems to relate to the decreased oxygen saturation during mouth breathing, suggesting that when cognitive abilities are required, mouth breathing can act as one of the variables that cause different outcomes in brain activities.
Authors: Junjie Zhang; Qingning Su; William G Loudon; Katherine L Lee; Jane Luo; Brent A Dethlefs; Shengwen Calvin Li Journal: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol Date: 2019-12-03