title: Intrinsic optical changes in neuronal tissue. Basic mechanisms.
abstract: Associated with changes in the level of physiological activity in neuronal tissue are changes in the intrinsic optical properties of the tissue. As a consequence, it is possible to optically monitor neuronal activity without the use of dyes or other contrast-enhancing agents. Such optical techniques have been applied in the laboratory for more than 50 years. Recent developments in near-infrared spectroscopy and intraoperative optical imaging have suggested a number of clinically important applications of this technology. This article provides an overview of what is known about the physiological correlates and underlying mechanisms associated with activity-evoked optical changes in neuronal tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hochman
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D012542:Scattering, Radiation