Brain Functional Connectivity in MS: An EEG-NIRS Study.

摘要

The purpose of this study is to examine neurovascular coupling in multiple sclerosis (MS) using a novel, noninvasive imaging technique for the simultaneous acquisition of both electrical (EEG) and blood volume and blood oxygen-based (NIRS and fMRI) signals, and to use the results to help optimize blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI analyses of brain activity. Participants will be patients with MS (n=25) and healthy demographically matched controls (n=25) who will undergo standardized evaluations and imaging using combined EEG-NIRS-fMRI. EEG-NIRS data will be used to construct maps of neurovascular coupling parameters that will be applied to fMRI activation maps. Differences in neurovascular coupling and fMRI activation will be examined within and between groups. To date, we have refined the experimental set-up for the combined simultaneous acquisition of EEG-NIRS-fMRI and overcome a number of technical challenges, and acquired simultaneous EEG-NIRS-fMRI data in one participant. We have created cognitive and motor tasks that are amenable to analysis in all three imaging modalities and that activate expected brain circuitry. Recruitment is ongoing, with 19 patients and 27 controls active in our multi-stage recruitment process.