0000000000236735
AUTHOR
Arcangelo Merla
Editorial: Effect of neurophysiological conditions and mental workload on physical and cognitive performances: a multidimensional perspective
The Research Topic "Effect of Neurophysiological Conditions and Mental Workload on Physical and Cognitive Performances: a Multidimensional Perspective" compiles recent advances in the multidimensional assessment of the effect of neurophysiological status and mental workload on physical and cognitive performance (Aghajani et al., 2017; Perpetuini et al., 2022). Due to technological and data analytics tool advancements, non-invasive and real-time monitoring of the activity of the human central and autonomic nervous systems is now possible, facilitating the quantification of the relationship between physiology and human performance (Ashkanasy, 2004; Cardone et al., 2022). Moreover, questionnai…
PPG/ECG Multisite Combo System Based on SiPM Technology
Two versions of a PPG/ECG combined system have been realized and tested. In a first version a multisite system has been equipped by integrating 3 PPG optodes and 3 ECG leads, whereas in another setup a portable version has been carried out. Both versions have been realized by equipping the optical probes with SiPM detectors. SiPM technology is expected to bring relevant advantages in PPG systems and overcome the limitations of physiological information extracted by state of the art PPG, such as poor sensitivity of detectors used for backscattered light detection and motion artifacts seriously affecting the measurements repeatability and pulse waveform stability. This contribution presents t…
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy System Validation for Simultaneous EEG-FNIRS Measurements
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) applied to brain monitoring has been gaining increasing relevance in the last years due to its not invasive nature and the capability to work in combination with other well–known techniques such as the EEG. The possible use cases span from neural-rehabilitation to early diagnosis of some neural diseases. In this work a wireline FPGA–based fNIRS system, that use SiPM sensors and dual-wavelength LED sources, has been designed and validated to work with a commercial EEG machine without reciprocal interference.
Fiberless, Multi-Channel fNIRS-EEG System Based on Silicon Photomultipliers: Towards Sensitive and Ecological Mapping of Brain Activity and Neurovascular Coupling
Portable neuroimaging technologies can be employed for long-term monitoring of neurophysiological and neuropathological states. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and Electroencephalography (EEG) are highly suited for such a purpose. Their multimodal integration allows the evaluation of hemodynamic and electrical brain activity together with neurovascular coupling. An innovative fNIRS-EEG system is here presented. The system integrated a novel continuous-wave fNIRS component and a modified commercial EEG device. fNIRS probing relied on fiberless technology based on light emitting diodes and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). SiPMs are sensitive semiconductor detectors, whose large…
The Use of infrared thermography in the study of sport and exercise physiology
Infrared thermography (IRT) is considered an upcoming, promising methodology in the field of exercise physiology. Skin temperature distribution derives from muscular activity, skin blood flow as well as perspiration patterns in specific body parts. This chapter aims to provide a general overview on the literature about the study of the skin temperature response to exercise assessed by means of IRT and its relationship with other thermoregulatory variables, exercise characteristics and performance factors.
Interpersonal Emotion Dynamics in Couples With Somatic Symptom Disorder: Dyadic Coherence in Facial Temperature During Emotional Interactions
OBJECTIVE: Disturbances in emotional processes are commonly reported in patients with a somatic symptom disorder (SSD). Although emotions usually occur in social interactions, little is known about interpersonal emotion dynamics of SSD patients during their actual emotional encounters. This study examined physiological coherence (linkage) between SSD patients and their partners, and in healthy couples during their emotional interactions. Secondarily, we explored group-level relationships between participants' and their partners' subjective affect. METHODS: Twenty-nine romantic couples (16 healthy and 13 SSD patient-couples) underwent a dyadic conversation task with neutral and anger-eliciti…
Wearable, Fiber-less, Multi-Channel System for Continuous Wave Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy Based on Silicon Photomultipliers Detectors and Lock-In Amplification
Development and in-vivo validation of a Continuous Wave (CW) functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) system is presented. The system is wearable, fiber-less, multi-channel (16×16, 256 channels) and expandable and it relies on silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for light detection. SiPMs are inexpensive, low voltage and resilient semiconductor light detectors, whose performances are analogous to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The advantage of SiPMs with respect to PMTs is that they allow direct contact with the scalp and avoidance of optical fibers. In fact, the coupling of SiPMs and light emitting diodes (LEDs) allows the transfer of the analog signals to and from the scalp through thin …
Thermographic imaging in sports and exercise medicine:a Delphi study and consensus statement on the measurement of human skin temperature
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd The importance of using infrared thermography (IRT) to assess skin temperature (t sk ) is increasing in clinical settings. Recently, its use has been increasing in sports and exercise medicine; however, no consensus guideline exists to address the methods for collecting data in such situations. The aim of this study was to develop a checklist for the collection of t sk using IRT in sports and exercise medicine. We carried out a Delphi study to set a checklist based on consensus agreement from leading experts in the field. Panelists (n = 24) representing the areas of sport science (n = 8; 33%), physiology (n = 7; 29%), physiotherapy (n = 3; 13%) and medicine (n = 6; 25%…