Age-related alterations in phase synchronization of oxyhemoglobin concentration changes in prefrontal tissues as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy signals

• Coherence between the left and right prefrontal oscillations was identified.
• Lower coherence was found in the elderly subjects.
• Lower coherence indicates reduced prefrontal functional connectivity.

The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, and decision making. This study aims to assess the phase synchronization of signals of the oxyhemoglobin concentration changes (Δ[HbO2]) in the left and right prefrontal tissues through near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with wavelet phase coherence (WPCO) method. The NIRS signals were continuously recorded from the left and right prefrontal lobes in 43 healthy elderly subjects (age: 69.6 ± 8.4 years) and 40 young healthy subjects (age: 24.5 ± 1.7 years) during the resting state. Phase synchronization between the left and right prefrontal oscillations in 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) was analyzed using the WPCO method. The WPCO values of elderly subjects were significantly lower in frequency intervals I (F = 7.376, p = 0.010) and III (F = 6.418, p = 0.016) than those of the young subjects. Low phase coherence in intervals I and III indicates reduced synchronization of cardiac activity in the prefrontal area and weakened prefrontal functional connectivity, respectively.