Riikka Mäkelä

Near-infrared spectroscopic imaging of stimulus-related hemodynamic responses on the neonatal auditory cortices.

We have used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to study hemodynamic auditory evoked responses on 7 full-term neonates. Measurements were done simultaneously above both auditory cortices to study the distribution of speech and music processing between hemispheres using a 16-channel frequency-domain instrument. The stimulation consisted of 5-second samples of music and speech with a 25-second silent interval. In response to stimulation, a significant increase in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin ([HbO2]) was detected in 6 out of 7 subjects. The strongest responses in [HbO2] were seen near the measurement location above the ear on both hemispheres. The mean latency of the maximum responses was 9.42±1.51 s. On the left hemisphere (LH), the maximum amplitude of the average [HbO2] response to the music stimuli was 0.76± 0.38 μ M (mean±std.) and to the speech stimuli 1.00± 0.45 μ± μM. On the right hemisphere (RH), the maximum amplitude of the average [HbO2] response was 1.29± 0.85 μM to the music stimuli and 1.23± 0.93 μM to the speech stimuli. The results indicate that auditory information is processed on both auditory cortices, but LH is more concentrated to process speech than music information. No significant differences in the locations and the latencies of the maximum responses relative to the stimulus type were found.

Auditory hemodynamic studies of newborn infants using near-infrared spectroscopic imaging

The noninvasive study of tissue blood volume and oxygenation using near-infrared light is a new and actively developing technology. We have used near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (NIRSI) to study hemodynamic responses on the auditory cortices evoked by auditory stimulation. Ten healthy newborn infants were studied. The otoacoustic emission hearing test was performed for each infant. Pulse oximetry was used to monitor the heart rate during the measurement, video recording was used to monitor motion artifacts, and the eye movements were noted in order to determine sleep stage. A 16-channel frequency-domain optical imaging system developed in our laboratory was used for NIRSI measurements. The stimuli were presented in trains of seven 1 kHz beeps with 700-ms inter-stimulus intervals. The stimulus trains were separated by 25-s silent periods in order to allow for the hemodynamic delay. In 3/8 cases, we obtained a clear bilateral increase in [HbO/sub 2/], and in two additional cases, a clear response on one hemisphere. The mean change in [HbO/sub 2/] was +0.9/spl plusmn/0.9/spl mu/M and the mean change in [Hb] was -0.3/spl plusmn/0.4/spl mu/M for those channels producing the largest response for each subject. No statistically significant response was found in 3/8 cases.