Ultra high density imaging arrays in diffuse optical tomography for human brain mapping improve image quality and decoding performance

Ultra high density imaging arrays in diffuse optical tomography for human brain mapping improve image quality and decoding performance

Abstract Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has dramatically advanced non-invasive human brain mapping and decoding. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) non-invasively measure blood oxygen fluctuations related to brain activity...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zachary E. Markow, Jason W. Trobaugh, Edward J. Richter, Kalyan Tripathy, Sean M. Rafferty, Alexandra M. Svoboda, Mariel L. Schroeder, Tracy M. Burns-Yocum, Karla M. Bergonzi, Mark A. Chevillet, Emily M. Mugler, Adam T. Eggebrecht, Joseph P. Culver
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Optical
Neuroimaging
Brain
NIRS
Retinotopy
fMRI
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85858-7
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Summary:Abstract Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has dramatically advanced non-invasive human brain mapping and decoding. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) non-invasively measure blood oxygen fluctuations related to brain activity, like fMRI, at the brain surface, using more-lightweight equipment that circumvents ergonomic and logistical limitations of fMRI. HD-DOT grids have smaller inter-optode spacing (~ 13 mm) than sparse fNIRS (~ 30 mm) and therefore provide higher image quality, with spatial resolution ~ 1/2 that of fMRI, when using the several source-detector distances (13–40 mm) afforded by the HD-DOT grid. Herein, simulations indicated reducing inter-optode spacing to 6.5 mm, creating a higher-density grid with more source-detector distances, would further improve image quality and noise-resolution tradeoff, with diminishing returns below 6.5 mm. We then constructed an ultra-high-density DOT system (6.5-mm spacing) with 140 dB dynamic range that imaged stimulus-evoked activations with 30–50% higher spatial resolution and repeatable multi-focal activity with excellent agreement with participant-matched fMRI. Further, this system decoded visual stimulus position with 19–35% lower error than previous HD-DOT, throughout occipital cortex.
ISSN:2045-2322

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