title: Altered executive function in the welders: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: Chronic exposure to manganese (Mn) can lead to impairments in motor and cognitive functions. Several recent studies reported Mn-induced executive dysfunction. The present study compared the neural correlates of ongoing executive function of welders and healthy controls. Fifty-three welders and 44 healthy controls were enrolled. Participants were given functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans and performed two modified versions of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) that differed in cognitive demand, and a task that established a high-level baseline (HLB) condition. Card Sorting Test and Word-Color Test were also used to assess executive performance. Neural activation of the bilateral superior-frontal cortex, right-inferior parietal cortex, and bilateral insula cortex were greater in healthy controls than in welders when contrasting the difficult version of the WCST with the HLB. There were also correlations between executive functions by the Card Sorting Test and Word-Color Test, and brain activation in the insula cortex using the WCST. Our results indicated that welders had altered neural processing related to executive function in the prefrontal cortex under conditions of high cognitive demand. Welders also had less activation of the insula cortex, a part of a larger network comprising the lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Biological Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeehye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Biological Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; Department of Radiology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea; Department of Molecular Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yongmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Biological Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Biological Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jang Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sin-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ahro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: POHANG POSCO Health Care Center, Pohang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea. Electronic address: yanghokm@nuri.net.
authors.forename: Yangho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D008345:Manganese
keywords: Executive function; Manganese (Mn) exposure; Wisconsin Card Sorting Task; fMRI