Effect of wearing a face mask on fMRI BOLD contrast

Law, Christine S.; Lan, Patricia S.; Glover, Gary H.

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117752

Cited by 31 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This has led to ongoing discussions about possible adverse effects of mask wearing (e.g., dizziness, headaches, fainting), especially within the elderly, during long-term continuous mask usage and during physical activity. Chan et al ( 2 ) reported that the arterial oxygenation (SpO 2 ) did not change in elderly subjects after 1 h, while Law et al ( 3 ) reported a significant effect on baseline cerebral hemodynamics and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (EtCO 2 ) using functional MRI (fMRI) on middle-aged adults. No task-induced hemodynamic changes were found in this study.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cerebral and systemic physiological effects of wearing face masks in young adults

Fischer

Frisk

Scholkmann

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread mandates requiring the wearing of face masks, which led to debates on their benefits and possible adverse effects. To that end, the physiological effects at the systemic and at the brain level are of interest. We have investigated the effect of commonly available face masks (FFP2 and surgical) on cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation, particularly microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBF) and blood/tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), measured by transcranial hybrid near-infrared spectroscopies and on systemic physiology in 13 healthy adults (ages: 23 to 33 y). The results indicate small but significant changes in cerebral hemodynamics while wearing a mask. However, these changes are comparable to those of daily life activities. This platform and the protocol provides the basis for large or targeted studies of the effects of mask wearing in different populations and while performing critical tasks.

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confidence: 99%

Cerebral and systemic physiological effects of wearing face masks in young adults

Fischer

Frisk

Scholkmann

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Compared to the results of Law et al [3] we have also observed an increase in EtCO 2 while wearing a mask, but we discarded the parameter after evaluation as being unreliable due to the re-breathing of CO 2 , instead we trusted the TCO 2 reading, which did not show a change. Generally, the observed increase of 30% in the BOLD signals compared to our detected increase in CBF and StO 2 does indeed suggest that mask wearing has an effect on cerebral hemodynmics, although it may not necessarily be a CO 2 effect, since, as already mentioned TCO 2 did not change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…For example, Chan et al [2] found in a recent study in elderly (age: 76.4 ± 6.1 years) no statistically significant change in arterial oxygenation (SpO 2 ) after wearing a mask for one hour. Recently, Law et al [3] published the first result of a fMRI study (eight subject, age: 44 ± 15 years) showing that wearing a mask increased the BOLD signal by 30% on average, increases end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (EtCO 2 ), but does not alter significantly task-induced changes in the BOLD signal. Clearly more research is needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does wearing a non-medical face mask cause changes in cerebral hemodynamics?

Fischer

Frisk

Tachtsidis

et al. 2021

Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging VIII

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“…Whether this practice impacts brain function remains unclear. To date, only one study in eight subjects indicated that it might alter BOLD baseline signals without affective task-related activation 1 . We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess subtle modi cations in functional connectivity using a crossover design, i.e., Half of the participants rst had no mask followed by mask, and half of the participants had the inverse order.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wearing a KN95/FFP2 Facemask Has Subtle Effects on Functional Salience Network Interaction

HALLER¹,

Montandon

Rodriguez

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundWide use of wearing a facemask is one of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used resting-state fMRI to search for subtle changes in brain functional connectivity, expected notably related to the high-level salience (SN) and default mode networks (DMN).Materials and MethodsProspective crossover design resting fMRI study with/without wearing a tight FFP2/KN95 facemask, including 24 consecutive male participants (mean age ± SD = 29.9 ± 6.9 years) at 3T. As physiological parameters, respiration frequency and heart rate were monitored. Data analysis was performed using the CONN toolbox.ResultsWearing an FFP2/KN95 facemask did not impact respiration or heart rate but resulted in a significant reduction in functional connectivity between the SN as the seed region and the left middle frontal and precentral gyrus. No difference was found when the DMN, sensorimotor, visual, dorsal attention or language networks were used as seed regions.ConclusionsThe wearing of tight FFP2/KN95 facemasks in men decreases the functional connectivity of the SN, which is known to be involved in communication, social behavior and self-awareness. This phenomenon was confined to the left frontal and precentral gyrus. Our results imply that the wearing of a facemask could impact our ability to detect and react appropriately to salient stimuli by altering the functional connectivity of the SN.

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Effect of wearing a face mask on fMRI BOLD contrast

Cited by 31 publications

References 13 publications

Cerebral and systemic physiological effects of wearing face masks in young adults

Cerebral and systemic physiological effects of wearing face masks in young adults

Does wearing a non-medical face mask cause changes in cerebral hemodynamics?

Wearing a KN95/FFP2 Facemask Has Subtle Effects on Functional Salience Network Interaction

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