Feasibility of transcranial Doppler and single photon emission computed tomography in compound neuroactivation task

The aim of this study was to test feasibility of transcranial Doppler (TCD) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) during compound neuroactivation task. The study was performed in 60 healthy right-handed volunteers. Cerebral blood flow velocity was measured by TCD in both middle cerebral arteries (MCA) at baseline and during computer game. The same stimulus and response pattern was used in 15 subjects that additionally underwent brain SPECT. Percentage differences between measurements were determined through quantitative result assessment. Both methods detected a statistically significant cerebral blood flow increase during neuroactivation. Correlation of TCD and SPECT showed statistically significant correlation only for the increase of cerebral blood flow velocity in the right MCA and for the right-sided cerebral blood flow increase, demonstrating that both methods partially measure similar cerebral blood flow changes that occur during neuroactivation. Comparison of TCD and SPECT showed TCD to be inadequately sensitive method for evaluation of cerebral blood flow during complex activation paradigm.