Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
Assessing Cerebral Autoregulation via Oscillatory Lower Body Negative Pressure and Projection Pursuit Regression
Published on: December 10, 2014
Effects of Blood Pressure on Brain Tissue Pulsation Amplitude in a Phantom Model
Jennifer K Nicholls1, Poppy Turner2, Andrea Lecchini-Visintini3
1Cerebral Haemodynamics in Ageing and Stroke Medicine (CHiASM) Research Group, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Department of Medical Physics, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Objective:
The precise mechanism and determinants of brain tissue pulsations (BTPs) are poorly understood, and the impact of blood pressure (BP) on BTPs is relatively unexplored. This study aimed to explore the relationship between BP parameters (mean arterial pressure [MAP] and pulse pressure [PP]) and BTP amplitude, using a transcranial tissue Doppler prototype.
Methods:
A phantom brain model generating arterial-induced BTPs was developed to observe BP changes in the absence of confounding variables and cerebral autoregulation feedback processes. A regression model was developed to investigate the relationship between bulk BTP amplitude and BP. The separate effects of PP and MAP were evaluated and quantified.
Results:
The regression model (R2 = 0.978) revealed that bulk BTP amplitude measured from 27 gates significantly increased with PP but not with MAP. Every 1 mm Hg increase in PP resulted in a bulk BTP amplitude increase of 0.29 µm.
Conclusion:
Increments in BP were significantly associated with increments in bulk BTP amplitude. Further work should aim to confirm the relationship between BP and BTPs in the presence of cerebral autoregulation and explore further physiological factors having an impact on BTP measurements, such as cerebral blood flow volume, tissue distensibility and intracranial pressure.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Measurement of Blood Pressure
01:24Blood Pressure
01:28Special considerations while measuring blood pressure
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
01:21Sites for measruring blood pressure
The Brachial Artery: Primary Site for Blood Pressure Measurement
01:30Equipments Used To Measure Blood Pressure
This invasive approach involves cannulating a peripheral artery. During each cardiac contraction, pressure generates mechanical motion within the catheter, transmitted through rigid, fluid-filled tubing to a transducer. This transducer converts mechanical motion into electrical signals displayed as waveforms on a monitor. An automatic flushing system prevents blood backflow. Due to the potential risk of unexpected arterial blood loss, this method is primarily used in intensive...
01:10Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure