Section Ear & Hearing, Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Eriksholm Research Centre, Oticon A/S, Snekkersten, Denmark.
PLoS One. 2018 Jun 13;13(6):e0197739. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197739. eCollection 2018.
Pupil light reflex (PLR) has been widely used as a method for evaluating parasympathetic activity. The first aim of the present study is to develop a PLR measurement using a computer screen set-up and compare its results with the PLR generated by a more conventional setup using light-emitting diode (LED). The parasympathetic nervous system, which is known to control the 'rest and digest' response of the human body, is considered to be associated with daily life fatigue. However, only few studies have attempted to test the relationship between self-reported daily fatigue and physiological measurement of the parasympathetic nervous system. Therefore, the second aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between daily-life fatigue, assessed using the Need for Recovery scale, and parasympathetic activity, as indicated by the PLR parameters.
A pilot study was conducted first to develop a PLR measurement set-up using a computer screen. PLRs evoked by light stimuli with different characteristics were recorded to confirm the influence of light intensity, flash duration, and color on the PLRs evoked by the system. In the subsequent experimental study, we recorded the PLR of 25 adult participants to light flashes generated by the screen set-up as well as by a conventional LED set-up. PLR parameters relating to parasympathetic and sympathetic activity were calculated from the pupil responses. We tested the split-half reliability across two consecutive blocks of trials, and the relationships between the parameters of PLRs evoked by the two set-ups. Participants rated their need for recovery prior to the PLR recordings.
PLR parameters acquired in the screen and LED set-ups showed good reliability for amplitude related parameters. The PLRs evoked by both set-ups were consistent, but showed systematic differences in absolute values of all parameters. Additionally, higher need for recovery was associated with faster and larger constriction of the PLR.
This study assessed the PLR generated by a computer screen and the PLR generated by a LED. The good reliability within set-ups and the consistency between the PLRs evoked by the set-ups indicate that both systems provides a valid way to evoke the PLR. A higher need for recovery was associated with faster and larger constricting PLRs, suggesting increased levels of parasympathetic nervous system activity in people experiencing higher levels of need for recovery on a daily basis.
瞳孔光反射（PLR）已被广泛用作评估副交感活动的方法。本研究的首要目的是开发一种使用计算机屏幕设置的 PLR 测量方法，并将其结果与使用发光二极管（LED）的更传统设置生成的 PLR 进行比较。众所周知，副交感神经系统控制人体的“休息和消化”反应，被认为与日常生活疲劳有关。然而，只有少数研究试图测试自我报告的日常疲劳与副交感神经系统的生理测量之间的关系。因此，本研究的第二个目的是调查使用恢复需求量表评估的日常生活疲劳与 PLR 参数所示的副交感活性之间的关系。
首先进行了一项试点研究，以开发使用计算机屏幕的 PLR 测量设置。记录了具有不同特征的光刺激引起的 PLR，以确认光强度、闪烁持续时间和颜色对系统引起的 PLR 的影响。在随后的实验研究中，我们记录了 25 名成年参与者对屏幕设置和传统 LED 设置产生的光闪烁的 PLR。从瞳孔反应中计算出与副交感和交感活动相关的 PLR 参数。我们测试了两个连续试验块之间的分半可靠性，以及两个设置引起的 PLR 参数之间的关系。参与者在 PLR 记录之前评估了他们的恢复需求。
屏幕和 LED 设置中获得的 PLR 参数在与幅度相关的参数方面具有良好的可靠性。两个设置中引发的 PLR 具有一致性，但所有参数的绝对值都存在系统差异。此外，较高的恢复需求与 PLR 的更快和更大收缩相关。
本研究评估了计算机屏幕产生的 PLR 和 LED 产生的 PLR。设置内的良好可靠性以及设置引发的 PLR 之间的一致性表明，这两种系统都提供了一种有效的方法来引发 PLR。较高的恢复需求与更快和更大的 PLR 收缩相关，这表明在日常生活中需要更高恢复水平的人副交感神经系统活动水平更高。
