Assessment of Infant Brain Development With Frequency-Domain Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

This is the first report to demonstrate quantitative monitoring of infant brain development with frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS). Regionally specific increases in blood volume and oxygen consumption were measured in healthy infants during their first year. The results agree with prior PET and SPECT reports; but, unlike these methods, FD-NIRS is portable and uses nonionizing radiation. Further, new information includes the relatively constant tissue oxygenation with age and location, suggesting a tight control between local oxygen delivery and consumption in healthy infants during brain development. FD-NIRS could become the preferred clinical tool for quantitatively assessing infant brain development. Abbreviations: CBFcerebral blood flow; CBVcerebral blood volume; CMRO2cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen; FDfrequency-domain; HbTtotal hemoglobin concentration; HGBhemoglobin concentration in the blood; NIRSnear-infrared spectroscopy StO2tissue oxygen saturation. © International Pediatrics Research Foundation, Inc. 2007. All Rights Reserved.