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High-density diffuse optical tomography of term infant visual cortex in the nursery
Steve M Liao1, Silvina L Ferradal, Brian R White
1Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Insights
High-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) successfully mapped visual cortex activation in healthy newborns. This imaging technique shows promise for studying brain function in vulnerable infants, including preterm babies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal medicine
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Neonatal medicine advancements have improved survival rates for sick newborns.
- Improved survival has not reduced neurodevelopmental morbidities in preterm infants.
- Conventional neuroimaging lacks functional assessment of the immature brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) for neonatal brain function assessment.
- To map functional activation in the visual cortex of healthy term-born infants using HD-DOT.
- To establish a foundation for studying brain function in vulnerable newborns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized recently developed high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT).
- Applied HD-DOT to image functional activation of the visual cortex.
- Conducted study on a cohort of seven healthy term-born infants.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of HD-DOT in the neonatal population.
- Obtained functional images with high contrast-to-noise ratio.
- Successfully mapped functional activation of the visual cortex in neonates.
Conclusions:
- HD-DOT is a feasible method for mapping neonatal brain function.
- HD-DOT shows potential for investigating brain function in vulnerable newborns, such as preterm infants.
- This study provides a foundation for future research on neonatal brain development and disorders.
Abstract:
Advancements in antenatal and neonatal medicine over the last few decades have led to significant improvement in the survival rates of sick newborn infants. However, this improvement in survival has not been matched by a reduction in neurodevelopmental morbidities with increasing recognition of the diverse cognitive and behavioral challenges that preterm infants face in childhood. Conventional neuroimaging modalities, such as cranial ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, provide an important definition of neuroanatomy with recognition of brain injury. However, they fail to define the functional integrity of the immature brain, particularly during this critical developmental period. Diffuse optical tomography methods have established success in imaging adult brain function; however, few studies exist to demonstrate their feasibility in the neonatal population. We demonstrate the feasibility of using recently developed high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) to map functional activation of the visual cortex in healthy term-born infants. The functional images show high contrast-to-noise ratio obtained in seven neonates. These results illustrate the potential for HD-DOT and provide a foundation for investigations of brain function in more vulnerable newborns, such as preterm infants.
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