IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2023 Jun;70(6):1838-1848. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3229513. Epub 2023 May 19.
Wearable technologies for functional brain monitoring in freely behaving subjects can advance our understanding of cognitive processing and adaptive behavior. Existing technologies are lacking in this capability or need procedures that are invasive and/or otherwise impede brain assessments during social behavioral conditions, exercise, and sleep.
In response a complete system was developed to combine relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurement, O and CO supplies, and behavior recording for use on conscious, freely behaving mice. An innovative diffuse speckle contrast flowmetry (DSCF) device and associated hardware were miniaturized and optimized for rCBF measurements in small subject applications. The use of this wearable, fiber-free, near-infrared DSCF head-stage/probe allowed no craniotomy, minimally invasive probe implantation, and minimal restraint of the awake animal.
Significant correlations were found between measurements with the new DSCF design and an optical standard. The system successfully detected rCBF responses to CO-induced hypercapnia in both anesthetized and freely behaving mice.
Collecting rCBF and activity information together during natural behaviors provides realistic physiological results and opens the path to exploring their correlations with pathophysiological conditions.
用于监测自由行为主体的功能性大脑的可穿戴技术可以增进我们对认知处理和自适应行为的理解。现有的技术在这种能力方面有所欠缺，或者需要侵入性的程序，或者在社会行为条件、运动和睡眠期间以其他方式阻碍大脑评估。
为了应对这一挑战，我们开发了一个完整的系统，将相对脑血流（rCBF）测量、O 和 CO 供应以及行为记录结合起来，用于清醒、自由行为的小鼠。创新的漫散射斑点对比流量测量（DSCF）设备和相关硬件被小型化，并针对小型应用中的 rCBF 测量进行了优化。这种可穿戴、无纤维、近红外 DSCF 头级/探头的使用不需要开颅手术、微创探头植入和对清醒动物的最小限制。
新的 DSCF 设计与光学标准之间的测量结果存在显著相关性。该系统成功地检测到麻醉和自由行为小鼠中 CO 诱导的高碳酸血症引起的 rCBF 反应。
在自然行为过程中同时收集 rCBF 和活动信息提供了现实的生理结果，并为探索它们与病理生理状况的相关性开辟了道路。
