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Updated: Oct 17, 2026
Exploring Cognitive Functions in Babies, Children & Adults with Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: July 28, 2009
Spontaneous oscillation of oxy- and deoxy- hemoglobin changes with a phase difference throughout the occipital cortex
1Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan. taga@complex.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Abstract:
We investigated spontaneous changes in the cerebral oxygenation state of infants during quiet sleeping by using a form of multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy: non-invasive optical topography. Eight infants born at 32-39 weeks were studied at postconceptional term age (38-43 weeks). Spatially synchronized oscillations of changes in the concentration of oxy- and deoxy- hemoglobin ([oxy-Hb] and [deoxy-Hb]) were observed throughout the occipital cortex. Time series analysis based on the theory of non-linear oscillators showed that the mean periods of the oscillation for each infant ranged from 11 to 18 s. The phase lag of [oxy-Hb] relative to [deoxy-Hb] was stable at about 3pi/4. This phase difference may result from interplay between the vasomotion and the oxygen consumption in relation to brain activity.
