Research
Gender-related asymmetric brain vasomotor response to color stimulation: a functional transcranial Doppler spectroscopy study
Non-invasive Neurocybernetic Flow Laboratory, International Institutes of Advanced Research and raining, Chidicon Medical Center, No 1 MCC/Uratta Road, P.O. Box 302, Owerri, Imo State, 460242, Nigeria
Experimental & Translational Stroke Medicine 2010, 2:21 doi:10.1186/2040-7378-2-21
Published: 30 November 2010Abstract
Background and Purpose
The present study was designed to examine the effects of color stimulation on cerebral blood mean flow velocity (MFV) in men and women.
Methods
The study included 16 (8 men and 8 women) right-handed healthy subjects. The MFV was recorded simultaneously in both right and left middle cerebral arteries in Dark and white Light conditions, and during color (Blue, Yellow and Red) stimulations, and was analyzed using functional transcranial Doppler spectroscopy (fTCDS) technique.
Results
Color processing occurred within cortico-subcortical circuits. In men, wavelength-differencing of Yellow/Blue pairs occurred within the right hemisphere by processes of cortical long-term depression (CLTD) and subcortical long-term potentiation (SLTP). Conversely, in women, frequency-differencing of Blue/Yellow pairs occurred within the left hemisphere by processes of cortical long-term potentiation (CLTP) and subcortical long-term depression (SLTD). In both genders, there was luminance effect in the left hemisphere, while in men it was along an axis opposite (orthogonal) to that of chromatic effect, in women, it was parallel.
Conclusion
Gender-related differences in color processing demonstrated a right hemisphere cognitive style for wavelength-differencing in men, and a left hemisphere cognitive style for frequency-differencing in women. There are potential applications of fTCDS technique, for stroke rehabilitation and monitoring of drug effects.
