Is it possible to measure hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex through the frontal sinus using continuous...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• The frontal sinus presents a potential pathway for light delivery to the prefrontal cortex.
• Non-invasive monitoring of cortical hemodynamics is crucial for understanding brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of using near-infrared (NIR) light through the frontal sinus for cortical monitoring.
• To validate continuous-wave diffuse optical tomography (CW-DOT) for measuring hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex.

Main Methods:

• Utilized continuous-wave diffuse optical tomography (CW-DOT) with NIR light projected through the frontal sinus.
• Monitored temporal changes of a blood dye in the prefrontal cortex.
• Recorded hemodynamic changes induced by low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the prefrontal cortex.

Main Results:

• NIR light successfully penetrated the frontal sinus to reach the cerebral cortex.
• CW-DOT provided sufficient information for reliable measurement of cortical hemodynamic changes.
• Demonstrated the capability to track blood dye dynamics and TMS-induced hemodynamic responses.

Conclusions:

• The frontal sinus is a viable route for NIR light penetration to the cerebral cortex.
• CW-DOT is an effective technique for non-invasively assessing cortical hemodynamics through the frontal sinus.
• This approach offers a promising method for brain function monitoring.