Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): a new tool to study hemodynamic changes during activation of brain function in human adults.
In healthy human adults, cerebral concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin ([HbO2]) and deoxygenated hemoglobin ([HbR]) were assessed during brain activation using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Measurements were made either in the frontal cortex (n = 10) during performance of cognitive tasks or in the occipital cortex (n = 6) during visual stimulation (flash-light exposure, picture observation). The typical findings during brain activation were an increase in [HbO2] and a decrease in [HbR]. We demonstrate that these findings are not due to alterations in skin blood flow. NIRS is a simple bedside technique for the assessment of hemodynamic alterations accompanying brain activation.
Villringer
A
A
Department of Neurology, University of Munich, FRG.
Planck
J
J
Hock
C
C
Schleinkofer
L
L
Dirnagl
U
U
D000328:Adult; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
D006454:Hemoglobins