Measurement of Brain Activity Related to Unpleasant Emotion in the Prefrontal Cortex Region Using NIRS

We measured noninvasively a response of blood flow (hemoglobin concentration) in the prefrontal cortex area caused by emotional unpleasant arousal using the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). NIRS can be easily measured brain activity in comparison with other measurement methods. And it has the advantage of low load for subjects. In this study, auditory stimuli applied to subjects in order to arouse unpleasant emotions, changes in blood flow were measured at that time. As a result, we have confirmed a significant increase of the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in the peripheral cortex (Brodmann area 9) caused by the emotional unpleasant associated. And, the effectiveness of NIRS in measuring the brain activity related to emotional was demonstrated.