Detection of reduced interhemispheric cortical communication during task execution in multiple sclerosis patients using functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) impairs brain activity through demyelination and loss of axons. Increased brain activity is accompanied by increases in microvascular hemoglobin oxygen saturation (oxygenation) and total hemoglobin, which can be measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Du...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomedical optics 2014, Vol.19 (7), p.076008-076008
Main Authors: Jimenez, Jon J, Yang, Runze, Nathoo, Nabeela, Varshney, Vishal P, Golestani, Ali-Mohammad, Goodyear, Bradley G, Metz, Luanne M, Dunn, Jeff F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Case-Control Studies
Corpus Callosum - physiopathology
Female
Hemoglobins - analysis
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Cortex - physiopathology
Multiple Sclerosis - blood
Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology
Oxyhemoglobins - analysis
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared - methods
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Summary:Multiple sclerosis (MS) impairs brain activity through demyelination and loss of axons. Increased brain activity is accompanied by increases in microvascular hemoglobin oxygen saturation (oxygenation) and total hemoglobin, which can be measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Due to the potentially reduced size and integrity of the white matter tracts within the corpus callosum, it may be expected that MS patients have reduced functional communication between the left and right sides of the brain; this could potentially be an indicator of disease progression. To assess interhemispheric communication in MS, we used fNIRS during a unilateral motor task and the resting state. The magnitude of the change in hemoglobin parameters in the motor cortex was significantly reduced in MS patients during the motor task relative to healthy control subjects. There was also a significant decrease in interhemispheric communication between the motor cortices (expressed as coherence) in MS patients compared to controls during the motor task, but not during the resting state. fNIRS assessment of interhemispheric coherence during task execution may be a useful marker in disorders with white matter damage or axonal loss, including MS.
ISSN:1083-3668
1560-2281
DOI:10.1117/1.JBO.19.7.076008