Abstract
BACKGROUND the ability to assess cerebral function at the cotside is important for our understanding of brain development in the newborn. Existing electrophysiological and optical techniques primarily measure activity near the surface of the brain, with little depth information. We have developed an optical imaging system which is able to interrogate the entire three dimenstional volume of the brain.
AIMS the aim of the study was to image regional changes in haemodynamics due to functional activation.
METHODS Six preterm infants born at a median (range) postmenstrual age of 29 (29–32) weeks were studied at 38 (28–40) days of age. The stimulus involved repeatedly raising and lowering the left and right arm in turn at a frequency of 1Hz. Optical data was collected using a custom built multichannel time-resolved optical imaging system1. Baseline data was collected for 10 seconds, before a 15 second stimulus. In order to generate 3D images each light source had to be activated sequentially. A total of 12 sources were used and therefore the stimulus was repeated 12 times. Images were generated using a linear reconstruction algorithm.
RESULTS Responses were obtained from 4 of the 6 infants. This consisted of an increase in the contralateral hemisphere of oxyhaemoglobin ([HbO2]), deoxyhaemoglobin ([Hb]) and total haemoglobin ([HbT]). The peak response occured a mean distance of 10.8mm from the estimated position of the primary motor cortex. The mean (± SD) increase in [HbO2], [Hb] and [HbT] were 25±17μ M, 27±20μ M, and 25±11μM, respectively.
DISCUSSION This study represents the first successful attempt at reconstructing three dimensional images of functional activation from the neonatal brain. This technique will allow events deep within the brain to be imaged at the cotside and has the potential to reveal novel information on cerebral function in infants at high risk of brain injury.
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References
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Austin, T., Gibson, A., Everdell, N. et al. 16 Three Dimensional Optical Imaging of Neonatal Brain Activation. Pediatr Res 58, 357 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00045
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00045