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Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Non-invasive Optical Measurement of Cerebral Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Infants
Published on: March 14, 2013
Physiology of cerebral blood flow and metabolism
1Department of Physiology, University of Heidelberg, Fed. Rep. Germany.
Abstract:
At a normal blood flow and oxygen consumption, the brain uses exclusively glucose as metabolic substrate. Coupling between blood flow and metabolism takes place on a local level. This adjustment occurs in two different ways: 1. Short-term, dynamic coupling mediated by local vasoactive factors that ensure second-to-second regulation. Such reactions appear to be partly dependent on the vascular endothelium. 2. Long-term, static coupling apparently mediated by capillary density and developed in response to local functional and metabolic activity. Recognizing these two mechanisms permits the distinction of apparent uncoupling during physiological conditions from real uncoupling during brain ischemia.
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