Resolving the transition from negative to positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses in the developing brain.

ABSTRACT: The adult brain exhibits a local increase in cortical blood flow in response to external stimulus. However, broadly varying hemodynamic responses in the brains of newborn and young infants have been reported. Particular controversy exists over whether the "true" neonatal response to stimulation consists of a decrease or an increase in local deoxyhemoglobin, corresponding to a positive (adult-like) or negative blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), respectively. A major difficulty with previous studies has been the variability in human subjects and measurement paradigms. Here, we present a systematic study in neonatal rats that charts the evolution of the cortical blood flow response during postnatal development using exposed-cortex multi

SUBMITTER: Kozberg MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3600493 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature