Regional hemodynamic responses to visual stimulation in awake infants

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Published on: October 24, 2019

J H Meek1, M Firbank, C E Elwell

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University College London Hospital Medical School, United Kingdom.

Pediatric Research
|June 11, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) noninvasively measured infant brain activity. Visual stimulation increased blood flow and oxygen use in the visual cortex, showing NIRS

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Understanding infant brain function is crucial for developmental neuroscience.
  • Previous methods for measuring brain activity in infants were limited.
  • Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers a noninvasive approach to assess cerebral hemodynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure regional hemodynamic changes in response to visual stimuli in awake infants using NIRS.
  • To investigate the specificity of hemodynamic responses to visual activation in the infant visual cortex.
  • To compare cerebral oxygen utilization during activation in infants versus adults.

Main Methods:

  • Employed near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with optodes placed over the occipital region of awake infants.
  • Measured changes in oxyhemoglobin (Hbo2) and deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) concentrations during visual checkerboard stimulation (5 Hz pattern reversal).
  • Utilized a control group with optodes placed over the frontoparietal region to assess regional specificity.

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in total hemoglobin concentration (Hbo2 + Hb) of 2.51 µmol/L was observed in the test group during visual stimulation.
  • Nine out of ten infants showed increased oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin related to the visual stimulus.
  • No significant changes in hemodynamic parameters were observed in the control group, indicating visual cortex specificity.

Conclusions:

  • NIRS is a practical and noninvasive method for measuring visual functional activation in awake infants.
  • Infant visual cortex activation involves increased cerebral blood flow specific to the stimulated region.
  • Infants exhibit increased cerebral oxygen utilization during activation that exceeds the hemodynamic response, differing from adults.

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