Relationship between prefrontal function during a cognitive task and social functioning in male Japanese workers: a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy study

Psychiatry Res. 2013 Oct 30;214(1):73-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2013.05.011. Epub 2013 Aug 7.

Abstract

To investigate whether prefrontal function during a cognitive task reflects the social functioning of male Japanese workers, prefrontal function during a working memory task in 181 male workers was measured by multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Social functioning was assessed using the Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale (SASS). The results indicated that cortical oxygenation level increases in dorsolateral prefrontal region showed significant positive correlations with the interest and motivation factor scores on the SASS. These results suggest that dorsolateral prefrontal function is associated with the interest and motivation factor in social functioning in male workers and that NIRS could be an addition to the medical tools for monitoring these characteristics on mental health examination.

Keywords: Near-infrared spectroscopy; Prefrontal function; Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale; Social functioning; Workers; Working memory.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Self Report
  • Social Adjustment*
  • Social Behavior*
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared