Characterizing dynamic cerebral vascular reactivity using a hybrid system combining time-resolved near-infrared and diffuse correlation spectroscopy

This study presents the characterization of dynamic cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in healthy adults by a hybrid optical system combining time-resolved (TR) near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). Blood flow and oxygenation (oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin) responses to a step hypercapnic challenge were recorded to characterize dynamic and static components of CVR. Data were acquired at short and long source-detector separations (r _SD) to assess the impact of scalp hemodynamics, and moment analysis applied to the TR-NIRS to further enhance the sensitivity to the brain. Comparing blood flow and oxygenation responses acquired at short and long r _SD demonstrated that scalp contamination distorted the CVR time courses, particularly for oxyhemoglobin. This effect was significantly diminished by the greater depth sensitivity of TR NIRS and less evident in the DCS data due to the higher blood flow in the brain compared to the scalp. The reactivity speed was similar for blood flow and oxygenation in the healthy brain. Given the ease-of-use, portability, and non-invasiveness of this hybrid approach, it is well suited to investigate if the temporal relationship between CBF and oxygenation is altered by factors such as age and cerebrovascular disease.