Integrated magnetic resonance and infrared imaging system for studying neural act

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的目的是在神经可塑性的啮齿动物模型中进行非侵入性、同步功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和扩散光学断层扫描（DOT）。该技术将开发一种集成的MRI/光学探头，专门用于对大鼠皮层进行成像。该探头将实现双波长多源/检测器近红外DOT和相控阵fMRI。该系统将被用来测量可塑性的神经反应在高空间和时间分辨率使用良好的特点胡须修剪范例。我们假设，功能磁共振成像和DOT将检测空间和时间的差异，刺激引起的神经反应诱发的控制和感觉剥夺（选择性胡须修剪）大鼠。最后，我们将在DOT系统中添加第三个波长，以阐明光学成像中的一个基本问题，即大脑激活中大血管对光信号的贡献程度。我们将测试的假设，在大静脉中的吸收系数的变化并没有显着的光信号的变化，并提供一个准确的估计相对信号的变化，从毛细血管床和小血管。

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.