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Bleton H, Perera S, Sejdić E. Cognitive tasks and cerebral blood flow through anterior cerebral arteries: a study via functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound recordings. BMC Med Imaging 2016; 16:22. [PMID: 26969112 PMCID: PMC4788871 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-016-0125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Functional transcanial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD) is a convenient approach to examine cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in major cerebral arteries. Methods In this study, the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was insonated on both sides, that is, right ACA (R-ACA) and left ACA (L-ACA). The envelope signals (the maximum velocity) and the raw signals were analyzed during cognitive processes, i.e. word-generation tasks, geometric tasks and resting state periods separating each task. Data which were collected from 20 healthy participants were used to investigate the changes and the hemispheric functioning while performing cognitive tasks. Signal characteristics were analyzed in time domain, frequency domain and time-frequency domain. Results Significant results have been obtained through the use of both classic/modern methods (i.e. envelope/raw, time and frequency/information-theoretic and time-frequency domains). The frequency features extracted from the raw signals highlighted sex effects on cerebral blood flow which revealed distinct brain response during each process and during resting periods. In the time-frequency analysis, the distribution of wavelet energies on the envelope signals moved around the low frequencies during mental processes and did not experience any lateralization during cognitive tasks. Conclusions Even if no lateralization effects were noticed during resting-state, verbal and geometric tasks, understanding CBFV in ACA during cognitive tasks could complement information extracted from cerebral blood flow in middle cerebral arteries during similar cognitive tasks (i.e. sex effects).
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Bleton
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Subashan Perera
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ervin Sejdić
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Matteis M, Bivona U, Catani S, Pasqualetti P, Formisano R, Vernieri F, Troisi E, Caltagirone C, Silvestrini M. Functional transcranial Doppler assessment of cerebral blood flow velocities changes during attention tasks. Eur J Neurol 2012; 16:81-7. [PMID: 19087154 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02351.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Aim of our study was to evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes during performance of attention tasks and to correlate them with reaction time (RT) and percentage of right answers. METHODS Mean flow velocity (MFV) in middle cerebral arteries was monitored in 30 subjects by transcranial Doppler during tonic alertness, phasic alertness, focused and divided attention tasks. RESULTS Mean flow velocity increase was significantly higher during divided attention with respect to other tasks (P < .001). MFV increase was higher in the right than in the left side (P < .001). Asymmetry during attention tasks resulted significantly higher than that observed in tonic alertness condition. RT was increased during focused attention tasks (P < .001 vs. both alert tasks), with further increase during divided attention tasks (P < .001 vs. focused attention task). RT was inversely related to MFV increase only during tonic alertness (P = 0.012 for left side; P = 0.008 for right side). During the divided attention tasks, an association was found between MFV increase and correct answers (r = 0.39, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS These data show a relationship between RT, correct answers and changes in blood flow velocity and suggest that this method of cerebral blood flow investigation could be a useful approach during assessment of patients with attention deficit.
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Fabjan A, Musizza B, Bajrović FF, Zaletel M, Strucl M. The effect of the cold pressor test on a visually evoked cerebral blood flow velocity response. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2012; 38:13-20. [PMID: 22104537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2011.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2011] [Revised: 08/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the hypothesis that during tonic pain stimulus, neurovascular coupling (NVC) decreases, measuring visually evoked cerebral blood flow velocity response (VEFR) during cold pressor test (CPT) in healthy human subjects as a test. VEFR was calculated as a relative increase in blood flow velocity in the posterior cerebral artery from average values during the last 5 s of the stimulus-OFF period to average values during the last 10 s of the stimulus-ON period. Three consecutive experimental phases were compared: basal, CPT and recovery. During CPT, end-diastolic and mean VEFR increased from 20.2 to 23.6% (p < 0.05) and from 17.5 to 20.0% (p < 0.05), respectively. In recovery phase, end-diastolic and mean VEFR decreased to 17.7% and 15.5%, respectively. Both values were statistically significantly different from CPT phase (p < 0.05). Compared with the basal phase, only end-diastolic VEFR was statistically significantly different in the recovery phase (p < 0.05). Our results are consistent with the assumption that there is a change in the activity of NVC during CPT because of the modulatory influence of subcortical structures activated during tonic pain. Contrary to our expectations, the combined effect of such influences increases rather than decreases NVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Fabjan
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Willie CK, Colino FL, Bailey DM, Tzeng YC, Binsted G, Jones LW, Haykowsky MJ, Bellapart J, Ogoh S, Smith KJ, Smirl JD, Day TA, Lucas SJ, Eller LK, Ainslie PN. Utility of transcranial Doppler ultrasound for the integrative assessment of cerebrovascular function. J Neurosci Methods 2011; 196:221-37. [PMID: 21276818 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 397] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2010] [Revised: 01/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
There is considerable utility in the use of transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) to assess cerebrovascular function. The brain is unique in its high energy and oxygen demand but limited capacity for energy storage that necessitates an effective means of regional blood delivery. The relative low cost, ease-of-use, non-invasiveness, and excellent temporal resolution of TCD make it an ideal tool for the examination of cerebrovascular function in both research and clinical settings. TCD is an efficient tool to access blood velocities within the cerebral vessels, cerebral autoregulation, cerebrovascular reactivity to CO(2), and neurovascular coupling, in both physiological states and in pathological conditions such as stroke and head trauma. In this review, we provide: (1) an overview of TCD methodology with respect to other techniques; (2) a methodological synopsis of the cerebrovascular exam using TCD; (3) an overview of the physiological mechanisms involved in regulation of the cerebral blood flow; (4) the utility of TCD for assessment of cerebrovascular pathology; and (5) recommendations for the assessment of four critical and complimentary aspects of cerebrovascular function: intra-cranial blood flow velocity, cerebral autoregulation, cerebral reactivity, and neurovascular coupling. The integration of these regulatory mechanisms from an integrated systems perspective is discussed, and future research directions are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K Willie
- Department of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, Canada V1V 1V7.
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Kucewicz JC, Dunmire B, Leotta DF, Panagiotides H, Paun M, Beach KW. Functional tissue pulsatility imaging of the brain during visual stimulation. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2007; 33:681-90. [PMID: 17346872 PMCID: PMC1995427 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2006.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2006] [Revised: 11/02/2006] [Accepted: 11/02/2006] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Functional tissue pulsatility imaging is a new ultrasonic technique being developed to map brain function by measuring changes in tissue pulsatility as a result of changes in blood flow with neuronal activation. The technique is based in principle on plethysmography, an older, nonultrasound technology for measuring expansion of a whole limb or body part as a result of perfusion. Perfused tissue expands by a fraction of a percent early in each cardiac cycle when arterial inflow exceeds venous outflow, and it relaxes later in the cardiac cycle when venous drainage dominates. Tissue pulsatility imaging (TPI) uses tissue Doppler signal processing methods to measure this pulsatile "plethysmographic" signal from hundreds or thousands of sample volumes in an ultrasound image plane. A feasibility study was conducted to determine if TPI could be used to detect regional brain activation during a visual contrast-reversing checkerboard block paradigm study. During a study, ultrasound data were collected transcranially from the occipital lobe as a subject viewed alternating blocks of a reversing checkerboard (stimulus condition) and a static, gray screen (control condition). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to identify sample volumes with significantly different pulsatility waveforms during the control and stimulus blocks. In 7 of 14 studies, consistent regions of activation were detected from tissue around the major vessels perfusing the visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Kucewicz
- Center for Industrial and Medical Ultrasound, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-6698, USA.
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Duschek S, Schandry R. Functional transcranial Doppler sonography as a tool in psychophysiological research. Psychophysiology 2003; 40:436-54. [PMID: 12946117 DOI: 10.1111/1469-8986.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Functional transcranial Doppler sonography (fTCD) allows the noninvasive and uncomplicated registration of intracranial blood flow parameters under defined conditions of stimulation. Although local distribution patterns of regional blood perfusion can be measured with high spatial resolution through neuroimaging methods (e.g., PET or SPECT), these methods are limited by their low temporal resolution. The high temporal resolution provided by fTCD, however, allows the recording of the dynamic component of cerebral blood perfusion by continuously measuring the cerebral blood flow velocity in the basal cerebral arteries. Hence, this method is especially appropriate for the investigation of fast neuronal activation processes, which are generally accompanied by changes in local blood perfusion. In this review, we present methodical issues regarding fTCD, as well its application in the field of psychology, especially psychophysiology. The relevant studies available to date investigate processes of attention and perception, higher cognitive functions, and emotional and psychomotor processes. Considering the current state of methodology and research, fTCD can be seen to be an important complement to the other psychophysiological methods for studying brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Duschek
- Department of Psychology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Stroobant N, Vingerhoets G. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics during performance of cognitive tasks: a review. Neuropsychol Rev 2000; 10:213-31. [PMID: 11132101 DOI: 10.1023/a:1026412811036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The examination of blood flow velocity (BFV) changes during the performance of mental tasks is one of the applications of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. The purpose of this review is to summarize the results of the functional TCD literature, to investigate the effects of methodological differences between studies, and to provide guidelines for future research. It is concluded that larger series of more homogeneous groups concerning age and handedness, and stricter criteria for subject selection and laboratory setting are required. The implication of quantitative and qualitative performance measures and psychological parameters (motivation, anxiety, and task anticipation) could also yield important information. We recommend future agreement upon a more standardized methodology. TCD promises to be a useful tool to provide further insight into the cerebral organization and temporal reactivity of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Stroobant
- Department of Psychiatry and the Neuropsychology, Center for Cardiac Surgery, University of Ghent, Belgium.
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Vingerhoets G, Stroobant N. Lateralization of cerebral blood flow velocity changes during cognitive tasks. A simultaneous bilateral transcranial Doppler study. Stroke 1999; 30:2152-8. [PMID: 10512921 DOI: 10.1161/01.str.30.10.2152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) permits the assessment of cognitively induced cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) changes. We sought to investigate the lateralization of BFV acceleration induced by a variety of cognitive tasks and to determine the influence of age, gender, IQ, and quality of the performance on the relative BFV changes. METHODS Simultaneous bilateral TCD monitoring of BFV in the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) was performed in 90 normal right-handed volunteers during 13 verbal and visuospatial tasks and their preceding rest periods. RESULTS All tasks induced a significant bilateral BFV increase in the MCAs compared with the preceding rest periods. Five verbal tasks showed a significant left-hemispheric BFV acceleration. Linguistic tasks that required active or creative processing of the verbal stimuli, such as sentence construction or word fluency, elicited the most asymmetric response. Five visuospatial tasks revealed a significant right-hemispheric BFV shift. Paradigms that combined visuospatial attention and visuomotor manipulation showed the most lateralized acceleration. Older volunteers (aged >50 years) showed higher relative BFV changes, but lateralization was not influenced by age. Gender, IQ, and performance quality did not reveal significant effects on BFV change. CONCLUSIONS Bilateral TCD is a noninvasive technique that has the potential to connect the particular change in flow pattern of the MCA distribution with selective cognitive activity and thus offers specific functional information of scientific and clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Vingerhoets
- Department of Psychiatry, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
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Shpilfoygel SD, Jahan R, Close RA, Duckwiler GR, Valentino DJ. Comparison of methods for instantaneous angiographic blood flow measurement. Med Phys 1999; 26:862-71. [PMID: 10436886 DOI: 10.1118/1.598602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Several different algorithms have been reported for measurement of blood flow rates and velocities from digital x-ray angiograms. We compare four videodensitometric methods: (1) distance-density curve matching (DDCM), (2) distance-density curve matching with curve-fitting (DDCM-F), (3) bolus mass tracking with curve-fitting (BMT-F) and (4) fluid continuity method (FCM). We tested the flow algorithms with simulated angiograms and with images obtained from a programmable flow phantom under clinically realistic flow and contrast injection conditions including imperfect mixing. All methods perform well for simulated angiograms. On phantom angiograms with constant flow, all methods tended to underestimate flow velocities by at least 7% and demonstrate high variability between consecutive measurements. The FCM demonstrated relatively low variability, but a large negative bias. The DDCM method was moderately biased and had the highest variability. The BMT-F method demonstrated the lowest bias (-7.1%) and the lowest variability both within (27%) and between (27%) studies. No method yields reliable measurements near the peak contrast opacification, when little or no gradient of contrast is present. The extrapolating version of the BMT-F method was also the most robust for estimation of interframe displacements longer than the field of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Shpilfoygel
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA
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Schnittger C, Johannes S, Arnavaz A, Münte TF. Relation of cerebral blood flow velocity and level of vigilance in humans. Neuroreport 1997; 8:1637-9. [PMID: 9189905 DOI: 10.1097/00001756-199705060-00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Blood flow velocities in both middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) in healthy subjects engaged in a continuous static visual vigilance task. Stimuli comprised white vertical gratings on a black background with a size of 5 x 5" (non-targets) or 5 x 3.5" (targets). Button presses were required to the rare (8.5%) targets. Over the 30 min session a decrease in hit rate and an increase in reaction time were seen, indicating a decrease in vigilance. These performance changes were paralleled by a decrease in flow velocity in both MCAs. No hemispheric difference was seen. These data suggest a close coupling of performance and blood flow in vigilance tasks. Modulation of cholinergic activity during the vigilance task might be the common underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Schnittger
- Department of Neurology, Medizinische Rochschule Hannover, Germany
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