Cerebral hemodynamic responses in preterm-born neonates to visual stimulation: classification according to subgroups and analysis of frontotemporal–occipital functional connectivity

Abstract

How neurovascular coupling develops in preterm-born neonates has been largely neglected in scientific research. We measured visually evoked (flicker light) hemodynamic responses (HRs) in preterm-born neonates (n ¼ 25, gestational age: 31.71 AE 3.37 weeks, postnatal age: 25.48 AE 23.94 days) at the visual cortex (VC) and left frontotemporal lobe (FTL) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging. We found that the HR characteristics show a large intersubject variability but could be classified into three groups according to the changes of oxyhemoglobin concentration at the VC [(A) increase, (B) decrease, or (C) inconclusive]. In groups A and B, the HRs at the left FTL were correlated with those at the VC, indicating the presence of a frontotemporal-occipital functional connectivity. Neonates in group A had a higher weight at measurement compared to those in group B, and had the lowest baseline total hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit compared to group C. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fNIRS study showing (1) that the HRs of preterm-born neonates need to be classified into subgroups, (2) that the subgroups differed in terms of weight at measurement, and (3) that HRs can be observed also at the FTL during visual stimulation. These findings add insights into how neurovascular coupling develops in preterm-born neonates.

Prefrontal Cortex and Supplementary Motor Area Activation During Robot-Assisted Weight-Supported Over-Ground Walking in Young Neurological Patients: A Pilot fNIRS Study

“…In line with a previous study that found large intersubject variability in hemodynamic responses in neonates (39), we grouped the participants into one of three subgroups. Subgrouping was based on the median hemodynamic responses obtained during walking in Andago.…”

Comparing different pre-processing routines for infant fNIRS data

“…The physiological reasons underlying these differences are likely multi-factorial, but grounded in the substantial developmental changes in brain development and neurovascular coupling in infancy ( Roche-Labarbe et al, 2012 ). The morphology of preterm newborns’ HRF correlates significantly with the weight and height at birth, rather than with postmenstrual age ( Karen et al, 2019 ), thus showing individual differences even within the same age group.…”

Systemic physiology augmented functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a powerful approach to study the embodied human brain

“…Over the past years, fNIRS was proven to be a valuable technique to study brain activity in humans of all ages, from preterm-born neonates (e.g., Karen et al. 4 ) to elderly, 5 , 6 in freely moving subjects in naturalistic environments, 7 in several subjects in parallel (hyperscanning), 8 , 9 as part of computer interfaces, 10 and in combination with electroencephalography (EEG), 11 fMRI, 12 , 13 magnetoencephalography (MEG) (e.g., Huppert et al. 14 ), positron emission tomography (PET) (e.g., Rostrup et al.…”