![]() Sudoku was uniquely divided into two steps to understand the differential role of the PFC while applying the heuristic rules. Since solving Sudoku also involves similar complex executive functions, we hypothesize that PFC is active during Sudoku when compared with the rest. Recent study has shown that fNIRS can be effectively used to study PFC dynamics during complex chess-based problem-solving tasks. fNIRS has been shown to be a reliable tool to measure cognitive workload during working memory task. fNIRS when applied to hair-free region of the forehead can record PFC activity during cognitive task. Dysfunctions in PFC dynamics are observed in the neuropsychiatric disorders that lead to cognitive deficits. Various functional neuroimaging studies have shown that PFC is involved in attention, working memory, decision-making, and problem solving. PFC is the most important area in the brain that participates in executive functions. The fNIRS fits the best technique to study puzzles such as Sudoku. Another advantage of fNIRS over other imaging studies is its portability and robustness, which make it easy to study tasks akin to the daily routine activities. This hemodynamic response provides the indirect information about the brain activity, as the neural activation and vascular response are tightly coupled, which is known as neurovascular coupling. The principle behind the technique is to measure the absorbance of the infrared light to calculate the relative ratios of deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobin by modified Beer–Lambert law. The fNIRS is a simple, safe, and noninvasive neuroimaging technique of measuring brain activity. The solution for such technical limitations is a perfectly noninvasive optical imaging technique called functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In addition, the supine motionless position is not the same used by an individual to solve the puzzle. In fMRI, the subject has to be motionless and in a cage of magnets, and this hardware restriction forms the ultimate limitation and restraints its use in claustrophobic participants. A 9 × 9 Sudoku requires the subject to be in a sitting posture for some time, which limits the use of traditional imaging techniques to study the brain activity during the task. However, a complete Sudoku task includes both basic heuristic problem-solving processes and searching and selecting the heuristic rules. Rather, their paradigm was dedicated toward understanding the neural bases of the basic heuristic problem-solving processes in the knowledge domain. Their unique Sudoku paradigm (4 × 4 matrix, 2 × 2 subgrid) eliminated the need of searching for the missing number or selecting the rules to be used. In fact, the same group of researchers had previously shown that the fMRI BOLD signal obtained from these regions of interest can be used to predict the mental states during puzzle solving. found the involvement of the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and also the bilateral involvement of posterior parietal cortex, caudate nuclei, fusiform, and frontal eye field areas while solving the simplified version of Sudoku puzzle. Simplified versions of Sudoku (4 × 4 matrix) have been used in various functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. Many studies have been directed toward finding an algorithm to solve Sudoku, but the investigation of the neural substrates involved in Sudoku has been challenging. However, little is known about the neural substrates involved during Sudoku. Since solving Sudoku involves executive cognitive functions, most importantly problem-solving and decision-making, it can be a promising tool for neurorehabilitation and cognitive remediation therapy in neuropsychiatric disorders. Cognitive deficits are important features among many neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disease, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease with dysfunctions in working memory, attention, reasoning, decision-making, and problem-solving. Solving puzzles has long been thought to keep the brain healthy and has been shown to delay the onset of dementia. Sudoku requires attention of the subject to analyze the grids and fill in the numbers basically it requires no math but is based on logic. Sudoku is a good cognitively stimulating leisure-time activity. ![]() ![]() The problem is based on three simple rules that the numbers should not repeat in the subgrid, row, or column. Popular among these puzzles is Sudoku, a logic-based combinatorial number placement problem composed of a matrix with rows ( n 2), columns ( n 2), and subgrids ( n × n). One of the most common leisure-time activities for all ages is solving puzzles.
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