Integrated magnetic resonance and infrared imaging system for studying neural act

描述(申请人提供)：本提案的目的是在神经可塑性的啮齿动物模型中同时进行非侵入性的功能磁共振成像(FMRI)和漫反射光学断层扫描(DOT)。这项技术将开发一种集成的MRI/光学探测器，专门为大鼠大脑皮质成像而设计。该探头将实现双波长多源/探测器近红外线点阵和相控阵功能磁共振成像。该系统将被用来测量高空间和时间分辨率的神经反应的可塑性，使用特征良好的胡须修剪范例。我们假设，fMRI和DOT将检测在刺激诱导的神经反应中的空间和时间差异，这些反应在对照组和感觉剥夺(选择性胡须修剪)大鼠中诱发。最后，我们将在DOT系统中增加第三个波长，以阐明光学成像中的一个基本问题，即大血管在脑激活中对光信号的贡献程度。我们将检验这样的假设，即大静脉中吸收系数的变化对光学信号的变化没有显著贡献，并提供来自毛细血管床和小血管的相对信号变化的准确估计。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The aim of this proposal is to perform non-invasive, simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffuse optical tomography (DOT) in rodent models of neural plasticity. The technique will develop an integrated MRI/optical probe, designed specifically for imaging the rat cortex. This probe will enable dual-wavelength multiple source/detector nearinfrared DOT and phased-array fMRI. This system will be used to measure the plasticity of neural responses at high spatial and temporal resolution using well-characterized whisker-clipping paradigms. We hypothesize that fMRI and DOT will detect spatial and temporal differences in stimulus-induced neural responses evoked in control and sensory-deprived (selective whisker clipping) rats. Finally, we will add a third wavelength to the DOT system to elucidate a fundamental question in optical imaging, namely the extent of the large-vessel contribution to the optical signal in brain activation. We will test the hypothesis that changes in the absorption coefficient in large veins do not contribute significantly to changes in the optical signal, and provide an accurate estimation of the relative signal changes from the capillary bed and small vessels.