Citation

Schnittger C, Johannes S, Arnavaz A, Münte TF. Neuroreport 1997; 8(7): 1637-1639.

Affiliation

Department of Neurology, Medizinische Rochschule Hannover, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9189905

Abstract

Blood flow velocities in both middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) in healthy subjects engaged in a continuous static visual vigilance task. Stimuli comprised white vertical gratings on a black background with a size of 5 x 5" (non-targets) or 5 x 3.5" (targets). Button presses were required to the rare (8.5%) targets. Over the 30 min session a decrease in hit rate and an increase in reaction time were seen, indicating a decrease in vigilance. These performance changes were paralleled by a decrease in flow velocity in both MCAs. No hemispheric difference was seen. These data suggest a close coupling of performance and blood flow in vigilance tasks. Modulation of cholinergic activity during the vigilance task might be the common underlying mechanism.

Language: en