brain imaging and behavioural measures of …...development in rural gambia: studies from birth to...

1
Changes in the absorption of very low levels of near infrared light are used to measure the changes in brain blood flow and oxygen consumption associated with neuronal activation. The technique is completely safe, low cost and requires minimal set up and training. Optical imaging provides better spatial resolution than EEG, and, unlike fMRI, is well suited to field based studies. Optical Imaging The optical imaging headgear consists of 6 sources (red) and 4 detectors (blue) co n ta in ed in a ligh tw eig ht silico n h ea db an d , wh ich takes less than 30 seco n d s to set u p on the in f an t’s h ea d. D. Halliday 1 , S. Lloyd-Fox 2 , K. Begus 2 , H. Maris 2 , M. Papademetriou 1 , N. Everdell 1 , M. K. Darboe 3 , A. M. Prentice 3,4 , S. E. Moore 3,4 , C. E. Elwell 1 1 Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, UK 2 Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, UK 3 MRC International Nutrition Group, Keneba Field Station, The Gambia 4 MRC International Nutrition Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK Brain Imaging and Behavioural Measures of Nutrition Related Cognitive Development in Rural Gambia: Studies from Birth to 24 Months of Age Aims To examine longitudinal and cross-sectional associations between optical brain imaging of cognitive function, behavioural performance, and physical growth measurements in the first 1000 days of life. To establish an objective and field-friendly assessment battery, to provide novel biomarkers for the evaluation of nutritional interventions. Optical Imaging Detects Localised Brain Function in Response to Vocal Auditory Stimuli 18-24 months 9-13 months 4-8 months Active channels in response to VOCAL (e.g., laughter, crying) vs. NON-VOCAL (e.g., rattles) sounds. Averaged 4-8 month-old (n=24) time course changes in oxyhaemoglobin (red) and deoxyhaemoglobin (blue), denoting evidence of functional brain activation in the posterior channels.. Summary Our Phase One grant has demonstrated the viability of optical brain imaging and behavioural assessment of infants over the first two years of life in a resource poor setting. Our Phase Two Vision is to apply these methods to investigate brain development and cognitive function in infants with varying trajectories of growth and nutritional status. Ac tiv ation localised over the posterior temporal lobe Optical image of brain function in a single 4-month infant.

Upload: others

Post on 20-Aug-2020

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Brain Imaging and Behavioural Measures of …...Development in Rural Gambia: Studies from Birth to 24 Months of Age Aims • To examine longitudinal and cross -sectional associations

• Changes in the absorption of very low levels of near infrared light are used to measure the changes in brain blood flow and oxygen consumption associated with neuronal activation.

• The technique is completely safe, low cost and requires minimal set up and training.

• Optical imaging provides better spatial resolution than EEG, and, unlike fMRI, is well suited to field based studies.

Optical Imaging

The optical imaging headgear consistsof 6 sources (red) and 4 detectors (blue)contained in a lightweight siliconheadband, which takes less than 30seconds to set up on the infant’s head.

D. Halliday1, S. Lloyd-Fox2, K. Begus2, H. Maris2, M. Papademetriou1, N. Everdell1, M. K. Darboe3, A. M. Prentice3,4, S. E. Moore3,4, C. E. Elwell1

1Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, UK2Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, UK

3MRC International Nutrition Group, Keneba Field Station, The Gambia4MRC International Nutrition Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

Brain Imaging and Behavioural Measures of Nutrition Related Cognitive Development in Rural Gambia: Studies from Birth to 24 Months of Age

Aims• Toexaminelongitudinaland cross-sectional associations

betweenoptical brainimagingofcognitivefunction,behaviouralperformance,andphysical growthmeasurementsinthefirst1000daysoflife.

• Toestablish anobjectiveandfield-friendlyassessmentbattery,toprovidenovelbiomarkersfortheevaluationofnutritionalinterventions.

Optical Imaging Detects Localised Brain Function in Response to Vocal Auditory Stimuli

18-24months

9-13months

4-8months

Active channels in response to VOCAL (e.g., laughter, crying) vs. NON-VOCAL (e.g., rattles) sounds.

Averaged 4-8 month-old (n=24) time course changes in oxyhaemoglobin (red) and deoxyhaemoglobin (blue), denoting evidence of functional brain activation in the posterior channels..

SummaryOurPhaseOnegranthasdemonstratedtheviability ofopticalbrain imaging andbehavioural assessmentofinfantsover thefirsttwoyearsoflife ina resourcepoorsetting.OurPhaseTwoVision istoapply thesemethodstoinvestigatebraindevelopmentandcognitive functionin infantswithvarying trajectories ofgrowthandnutritional status.

Activation localised over the posterior temporal lobe

Optical image of brain function in a single 4-month infant.