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Published on: January 10, 2019
Depth-resolved imaging of functional activation in the rat cerebral cortex using optical coherence tomography
A D Aguirre1, Y Chen, J G Fujimoto
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Optics Letters
|November 14, 2006
Summary
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and video microscopy simultaneously imaged rat brains during stimulation. OCT successfully mapped functional neurovascular signals, showing its potential for neuroscience research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Understanding brain function relies on imaging neural activity.
- Neurovascular coupling, the relationship between neural activity and blood flow, is crucial for brain function.
- Current imaging techniques have limitations in resolution or depth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a tool for functional neuroimaging.
- To co-register OCT with video microscopy for simultaneous brain activity monitoring.
- To assess OCT's capability in visualizing neurovascular responses in a rodent model.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous acquisition of co-registered optical coherence tomography (OCT) and video microscopy.
- Imaging was performed on the rat somatosensory cortex through a thinned skull.
- Forepaw electrical stimulation was used to evoke neural and hemodynamic responses.
Main Results:
- Fractional signal change measured by OCT correlated with hemodynamic signals from video microscopy.
- OCT provided high-resolution, cross-sectional images of functional neurovascular activation.
- The study demonstrated a functional signal time course consistent with hemodynamic changes.
Conclusions:
- OCT is a viable tool for high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging of functional neurovascular activation.
- Co-registered OCT and video microscopy offer a powerful approach for neuroscience research.
- OCT shows promise as a novel tool for studying the rat cerebral cortex model.
