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Developmental changes in neonatal hemodynamics during tactile stimulation using whole-head functional near-infrared
Yutaka Fuchino1, Ikuko Kato2, Yinmon Htun2
1Language Sciences, Department of Human Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan; Research Center for Language, Brain and Genetics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
Neuroimage
|November 22, 2023
Summary
Brain activity in infants was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Hemodynamic responses showed age-related changes in amplitude, suggesting developmental shifts in neural activity and blood flow.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Noninvasive brain function assessment in early development relies on neural-activity-associated hemodynamic changes.
- Temporal hemodynamic patterns in infants differ from adults, necessitating developmental studies.
- Longitudinal studies using consistent stimuli are lacking for evaluating developmental hemodynamic changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine normalized relative changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (Δ[oxy-Hb]) in infants up to 10 months old.
- To compare hemodynamic responses to tactile vibration stimuli between neonates and older infants.
- To investigate age-related developmental changes in infant brain hemodynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized whole-head functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for noninvasive brain imaging.
- Administered tactile vibration stimuli to the limbs of full-term infants and neonates.
- Analyzed normalized relative changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (Δ[oxy-Hb]) over time.
Main Results:
- The time to peak of normalized Δ[oxy-Hb] was not significantly affected by age.
- The amplitude of normalized Δ[oxy-Hb] demonstrated age-dependent effects in sensorimotor areas, excluding the supplementary motor area.
- The amplitude of normalized Δ[oxy-Hb] was lowest in 1-2-month-old infants and increased with age.
Conclusions:
- Infant hemodynamic responses to tactile stimuli exhibit significant age-related amplitude changes.
- These findings suggest developmental alterations in neural activity, cerebral vasculature, and blood oxygenation patterns.
- The study provides insights into the maturation of brain function during the first year of life.
