Full Head, High Density Functional Diffuse Optical Tomography

描述(申请人提供)：漫反射光学断层扫描(DOT)是一种新兴的成像方法，用于绘制人脑功能图。与正电子发射断层扫描(PET)和磁共振成像(MRI)使用大型扫描仪并要求受试者在试管内保持不动不同，DOT使用了可穿戴的成像帽。DOT帽非常适合于几种不适合固定扫描仪环境的情况，包括成像运动的对象，否则可能需要镇静，固定的对象，如重症监护患者，以及使用金属植入物的对象。该上限在研究儿童的人类发展方面也具有巨大的潜力，这些研究将受益于更广泛的行为范式的丰富环境。与以往的光学方法相比，DOT方法具有许多潜在的优势，包括体积定位、定量成像以及更好地区分头皮和头骨的皮质信号。对人类乳房和小动物进行DOT成像的结果表明，成人的外周皮质分辨率为1厘米是可能的，婴儿和幼儿更好。然而，在这笔赠款中，将DOT方法扩展到绘制人脑功能图的应用是困难的，我们将解决与高密度、全覆盖成像阵列相关的仪器挑战，并开发一种新的用于人脑活动的功能性DOT系统(DOT)(目标1)。将开发补充算法，以便在共同坐标系中报告脑功能图，并改善刺激脑信号与背景的对比度(目标2)。可行性将通过对成人和儿童在休息和视觉、运动、听觉和语言任务中进行的fMRI/DOT比较研究来确定(目标3)。这些新的DOT方法的成功开发将显著提高DOT功能图的图像质量和可靠性，并增加DOT在更广泛的神经科学应用中的实用性和影响。如果这项提议中开发的方法和实验任务取得成功，它们将推动一个更大的计划，将发展研究包括在较小的识字前儿童以及具有非典型技能发展的儿童中。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is an emerging imaging methodology for mapping human brain function. In contrast to positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which use large scanners and require the subject to remain immobile inside a tube, DOT employs a wearable imaging cap. The DOT cap is well-suited for several situations not amenable to fixed scanner environments including imaging moving subjects who might otherwise require sedation, immovable subjects, such as patients in intensive care, and subjects with metal implants. The cap also has great potential for studies of human development in children that would benefit from enriched environments for a wider range of behavioral paradigms. DOT approaches have a number of potential benefits over previous optical approaches, including volumetric localization, quantitative imaging, and better discrimination of cortical signals from scalp and skull. The results of imaging human breast and small animals with DOT suggest a resolution of <1 cm resolution is possible on the peripheral cortex in adult humans, better still in infants and young children. However extension of DOT methods to application in mapping human brain function is difficult In this grant, we will address instrumentation challenges related to high-density, full-coverage imaging arrays and develop a new functional DOT system (DOT) for human brain activity (Aim 1). Complementary algorithms will be developed for reporting functional brain maps in a common coordinate system and for improving the contrast to background of stimulated brain signals (Aim 2). Feasibility will be established with comparative fMRI/DOT studies of human adults and children during rest and during visual, motor, auditory, and language tasks (Aim 3). Successful development of these new DOT methods will significantly enhance the image quality and reliability of DOT functional maps and increase the utility and impact of DOT for a wider variety of neuroscience applications. If the methods and experimental tasks developed in this proposal are successful, they will drive a larger program to include developmental studies such as literacy-related skills in younger, pre-literate children as well as in children with atypical development of such skills.