Wavelet coherence analysis of cerebral oxygenation signals measured by near-infrared spectroscopy in sailors: an exploratory, experimental study

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of long-term offshore work on cerebral oxygenation oscillations in sailors based on the wavelet phase coherence (WPCO) of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signals. Methods: The fatigue severity scale (FSS) was first applied to assess the fatigue level of sailors and age-matched controls. Continuous recordings of NIRS signals were then obtained from the prefrontal lobes in 30 healthy sailors and 30 age-matched controls during the resting state. WPCO between the left and right prefrontal oscillations was analysed and Pearson correlation analysis was used to study the relationship between the FSS and the wavelet amplitude (WA), and between the FSS and the WPCO level. Results: The periodic oscillations of Delta (HbO(2)) signals were identified at six frequency intervals: I (0.6-2 Hz); II (0.145-0.6 Hz); III (0.052-0.145 Hz); IV (0.021-0.052 Hz); V (0.0095-0.021 Hz); and VI (0.005-0.0095 Hz). The WA in intervals I (F= 8.823, p= 0.004) and III (F= 4.729, p= 0.034) was significantly lower in sailors than that in the controls. The WPCO values of sailor group were significantly lower in intervals III (F= 4.686, p= 0.039), IV (F= 4.864, p= 0.036) and V (F= 5.195, p= 0.03) than those of the control group. In the sailor group, the WA in interval I (r=-0.799, p< 0.01) and in interval III (r=-0.721, p< 0.01) exhibited a negative correlation with the FSS. Also, the WPCO exhibited a negative correlation with the FSS in intervals III (r=-0.839, p< 0.01), IV (r=-0.765, p< 0.01) and V (r=-0.775, p< 0.01) in the sailor group. Conclusions: The negative correlation between WA and FSS indicates that the lower oscillatory activities might contribute to the development of fatigue. The low WPCO in intervals III, IV and V represents a reduced phase synchronisation of myogenic, neurogenic and endothelial metabolic activities respectively and this may suggest a decline of cognitive function.