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Jeong H, Ntolkeras G, Warbrick T, Jaschke M, Gupta R, Lev MH, Peters JM, Grant PE, Bonmassar G. Aluminum Thin Film Nanostructure Traces in Pediatric EEG Net for MRI and CT Artifact Reduction. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:3633. [PMID: 37050693 PMCID: PMC10098641 DOI: 10.3390/s23073633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring are essential in the clinical management of neonatal seizures. EEG electrodes, however, can significantly degrade the image quality of both MRI and CT due to substantial metallic artifacts and distortions. Thus, we developed a novel thin film trace EEG net ("NeoNet") for improved MRI and CT image quality without compromising the EEG signal quality. The aluminum thin film traces were fabricated with an ultra-high-aspect ratio (up to 17,000:1, with dimensions 30 nm × 50.8 cm × 100 µm), resulting in a low density for reducing CT artifacts and a low conductivity for reducing MRI artifacts. We also used numerical simulation to investigate the effects of EEG nets on the B1 transmit field distortion in 3 T MRI. Specifically, the simulations predicted a 65% and 138% B1 transmit field distortion higher for the commercially available copper-based EEG net ("CuNet", with and without current limiting resistors, respectively) than with NeoNet. Additionally, two board-certified neuroradiologists, blinded to the presence or absence of NeoNet, compared the image quality of MRI images obtained in an adult and two children with and without the NeoNet device and found no significant difference in the degree of artifact or image distortion. Additionally, the use of NeoNet did not cause either: (i) CT scan artifacts or (ii) impact the quality of EEG recording. Finally, MRI safety testing confirmed a maximum temperature rise associated with the NeoNet device in a child head-phantom to be 0.84 °C after 30 min of high-power scanning, which is within the acceptance criteria for the temperature for 1 h of normal operating mode scanning as per the FDA guidelines. Therefore, the proposed NeoNet device has the potential to allow for concurrent EEG acquisition and MRI or CT scanning without significant image artifacts, facilitating clinical care and EEG/fMRI pediatric research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbae Jeong
- AA. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Georgios Ntolkeras
- Department of Newborn Medicine, Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA 01605, USA
| | | | | | - Rajiv Gupta
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Michael H. Lev
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jurriaan M. Peters
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patricia Ellen Grant
- Department of Newborn Medicine, Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Giorgio Bonmassar
- AA. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Newborn Medicine, Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Early development of sleep and brain functional connectivity in term-born and preterm infants. Pediatr Res 2022; 91:771-786. [PMID: 33859364 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The proper development of sleep and sleep-wake rhythms during early neonatal life is crucial to lifelong neurological well-being. Recent data suggests that infants who have poor quality sleep demonstrate a risk for impaired neurocognitive outcomes. Sleep ontogenesis is a complex process, whereby alternations between rudimentary brain states-active vs. wake and active sleep vs. quiet sleep-mature during the last trimester of pregnancy. If the infant is born preterm, much of this process occurs in the neonatal intensive care unit, where environmental conditions might interfere with sleep. Functional brain connectivity (FC), which reflects the brain's ability to process and integrate information, may become impaired, with ensuing risks of compromised neurodevelopment. However, the specific mechanisms linking sleep ontogenesis to the emergence of FC are poorly understood and have received little investigation, mainly due to the challenges of studying causal links between developmental phenomena and assessing FC in newborn infants. Recent advancements in infant neuromonitoring and neuroimaging strategies will allow for the design of interventions to improve infant sleep quality and quantity. This review discusses how sleep and FC develop in early life, the dynamic relationship between sleep, preterm birth, and FC, and the challenges associated with understanding these processes. IMPACT: Sleep in early life is essential for proper functional brain development, which is essential for the brain to integrate and process information. This process may be impaired in infants born preterm. The connection between preterm birth, early development of brain functional connectivity, and sleep is poorly understood. This review discusses how sleep and brain functional connectivity develop in early life, how these processes might become impaired, and the challenges associated with understanding these processes. Potential solutions to these challenges are presented to provide direction for future research.
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Korom M, Camacho MC, Filippi CA, Licandro R, Moore LA, Dufford A, Zöllei L, Graham AM, Spann M, Howell B, Shultz S, Scheinost D. Dear reviewers: Responses to common reviewer critiques about infant neuroimaging studies. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2021; 53:101055. [PMID: 34974250 PMCID: PMC8733260 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of adult neuroimaging relies on well-established principles in research design, imaging sequences, processing pipelines, as well as safety and data collection protocols. The field of infant magnetic resonance imaging, by comparison, is a young field with tremendous scientific potential but continuously evolving standards. The present article aims to initiate a constructive dialog between researchers who grapple with the challenges and inherent limitations of a nascent field and reviewers who evaluate their work. We address 20 questions that researchers commonly receive from research ethics boards, grant, and manuscript reviewers related to infant neuroimaging data collection, safety protocols, study planning, imaging sequences, decisions related to software and hardware, and data processing and sharing, while acknowledging both the accomplishments of the field and areas of much needed future advancements. This article reflects the cumulative knowledge of experts in the FIT’NG community and can act as a resource for both researchers and reviewers alike seeking a deeper understanding of the standards and tradeoffs involved in infant neuroimaging. The field of infant MRI is young with evolving standards. We address 20 questions that researchers commonly receive reviewers. These come from research ethics boards, grant, and manuscript reviewers. This article reflects the cumulative knowledge of experts in the FIT’NG community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Korom
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
| | - M Catalina Camacho
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (Neurosciences), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Courtney A Filippi
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Roxane Licandro
- Institute of Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology, Computer Vision Lab, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria; Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Computational Imaging Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucille A Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Alexander Dufford
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lilla Zöllei
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alice M Graham
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Marisa Spann
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brittany Howell
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | | | - Sarah Shultz
- Division of Autism & Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Dustin Scheinost
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Modeling radio-frequency energy-induced heating due to the presence of transcranial electric stimulation setup at 3T. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2020; 33:793-807. [PMID: 32462558 PMCID: PMC7669803 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-020-00853-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of the present study was to develop a numerical workflow for simulating temperature increase in a high-resolution human head and torso model positioned in a whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio-frequency (RF) coil in the presence of a transcranial electric stimulation (tES) setup. METHODS A customized human head and torso model was developed from medical image data. Power deposition and temperature rise (ΔT) were evaluated with the model positioned in a whole-body birdcage RF coil in the presence of a tES setup. Multiphysics modeling at 3T (123.2 MHz) on unstructured meshes was based on RF circuit, 3D electromagnetic, and thermal co-simulations. ΔT was obtained for (1) a set of electrical and thermal properties assigned to the scalp region, (2) a set of electrical properties of the gel used to ensure proper electrical contact between the tES electrodes and the scalp, (3) a set of electrical conductivity values of skin tissue, (4) four gel patch shapes, and (5) three electrode shapes. RESULTS Significant dependence of power deposition and ΔT on the skin's electrical properties and electrode and gel patch geometries was observed. Differences in maximum ΔT (> 100%) and its location were observed when comparing the results from a model using realistic human tissue properties and one with an external container made of acrylic material. The electrical and thermal properties of the phantom container material also significantly (> 250%) impacted the ΔT results. CONCLUSION Simulation results predicted that the electrode and gel geometries, skin electrical conductivity, and position of the temperature sensors have a significant impact on the estimated temperature rise. Therefore, these factors must be considered for reliable assessment of ΔT in subjects undergoing an MRI examination in the presence of a tES setup.
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Atefi SR, Serano P, Poulsen C, Angelone LM, Bonmassar G. Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Radiofrequency-Induced Heating Versus Lead Conductivity During EEG-MRI at 3 T. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY 2019; 61:852-859. [PMID: 31210669 PMCID: PMC6579539 DOI: 10.1109/temc.2018.2840050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating in a head model with a 256-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) cap during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Nine computational models were implemented each with different EEG lead electrical conductivity, ranging from 1 to 5.8 × 107 S/m. The peak values of specific absorption rate (SAR) averaged over different volumes were calculated for each lead conductivity. Experimental measurements were also performed at 3-T MRI with a Gracilaria Lichenoides (GL) phantom with and without a low-conductive EEG lead cap ("InkNet"). The simulation results showed that SAR was a nonlinear function of the EEG lead conductivity. The experimental results were in line with the numerical simulations. Specifically, there was a ΔT of 1.7 °C in the GL phantom without leads compared to ΔT of 1.8 °C calculated with the simulations. Additionally, there was a ΔT of 1.5 °C in the GL phantom with the InkNet compared to a ΔT of 1.7 °C in the simulations with a cap of similar conductivity. The results showed that SAR is affected by specific location, number of electrodes, and the volume of tissue considered. As such, SAR averaged over the whole head, or even SAR averaged over volumes of 1 or 0.1 g, may conceal significant heating effects and local analysis of RF heating (in terms of peak SAR and temperature) is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Reza Atefi
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA, and also with the University of Boras 50190, Boras Sweden
| | - Peter Serano
- Division of Biomedical Physics, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 11401 USA
| | | | - Leonardo M Angelone
- Division of Biomedical Physics, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 11401 USA
| | - Giorgio Bonmassar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
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Hendrikx D, Smits A, Lavanga M, De Wel O, Thewissen L, Jansen K, Caicedo A, Van Huffel S, Naulaers G. Measurement of Neurovascular Coupling in Neonates. Front Physiol 2019; 10:65. [PMID: 30833901 PMCID: PMC6387909 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurovascular coupling refers to the mechanism that links the transient neural activity to the subsequent change in cerebral blood flow, which is regulated by both chemical signals and mechanical effects. Recent studies suggest that neurovascular coupling in neonates and preterm born infants is different compared to adults. The hemodynamic response after a stimulus is later and less pronounced and the stimulus might even result in a negative (hypoxic) signal. In addition, studies both in animals and neonates confirm the presence of a short hypoxic period after a stimulus in preterm infants. In clinical practice, different methodologies exist to study neurovascular coupling. The combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging or functional near-infrared spectroscopy (brain hemodynamics) with EEG (brain function) is most commonly used in neonates. Especially near-infrared spectroscopy is of interest, since it is a non-invasive method that can be integrated easily in clinical care and is able to provide results concerning longer periods of time. Therefore, near-infrared spectroscopy can be used to develop a continuous non-invasive measurement system, that could be used to study neonates in different clinical settings, or neonates with different pathologies. The main challenge for the development of a continuous marker for neurovascular coupling is how the coupling between the signals can be described. In practice, a wide range of signal interaction measures exist. Moreover, biomedical signals often operate on different time scales. In a more general setting, other variables also have to be taken into account, such as oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide and blood pressure in order to describe neurovascular coupling in a concise manner. Recently, new mathematical techniques were developed to give an answer to these questions. This review discusses these recent developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries Hendrikx
- Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- imec, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne Smits
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Lavanga
- Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- imec, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ofelie De Wel
- Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- imec, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Thewissen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Jansen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Child Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alexander Caicedo
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sabine Van Huffel
- Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- imec, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gunnar Naulaers
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Smyser CD, Wheelock MD, Limbrick DD, Neil JJ. Neonatal brain injury and aberrant connectivity. Neuroimage 2019; 185:609-623. [PMID: 30059733 PMCID: PMC6289815 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.07.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain injury sustained during the neonatal period may disrupt development of critical structural and functional connectivity networks leading to subsequent neurodevelopmental impairment in affected children. These networks can be characterized using structural (via diffusion MRI) and functional (via resting state-functional MRI) neuroimaging techniques. Advances in neuroimaging have led to expanded application of these approaches to study term- and prematurely-born infants, providing improved understanding of cerebral development and the deleterious effects of early brain injury. Across both modalities, neuroimaging data are conducive to analyses ranging from characterization of individual white matter tracts and/or resting state networks through advanced 'connectome-style' approaches capable of identifying highly connected network hubs and investigating metrics of network topology such as modularity and small-worldness. We begin this review by summarizing the literature detailing structural and functional connectivity findings in healthy term and preterm infants without brain injury during the postnatal period, including discussion of early connectome development. We then detail common forms of brain injury in term- and prematurely-born infants. In this context, we next review the emerging body of literature detailing studies employing diffusion MRI, resting state-functional MRI and other complementary neuroimaging modalities to characterize structural and functional connectivity development in infants with brain injury. We conclude by reviewing technical challenges associated with neonatal neuroimaging, highlighting those most relevant to studying infants with brain injury and emphasizing the need for further targeted study in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Smyser
- Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics and Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8111, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Muriah D Wheelock
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - David D Limbrick
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, One Children's Place, Suite S20, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Jeffrey J Neil
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, BCH3443, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Cusack R, Ball G, Smyser CD, Dehaene-Lambertz G. A neural window on the emergence of cognition. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2016; 1369:7-23. [PMID: 27164193 PMCID: PMC4874873 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2015] [Revised: 01/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Can babies think? A fundamental challenge for cognitive neuroscience is to answer when brain functions begin and in what form they first emerge. This is challenging with behavioral tasks, as it is difficult to communicate to an infant what a task requires, and motor function is impoverished, making execution of the appropriate response difficult. To circumvent these requirements, neuroimaging provides a complementary route for assessing the emergence of cognition. Starting from the prerequisites of cognitive function and building stepwise, we review when the cortex forms and when it becomes gyrated and regionally differentiated. We then discuss when white matter tracts mature and when functional brain networks arise. Finally, we assess the responsiveness of these brain systems to external events. We find that many cognitive systems are observed surprisingly early. Some emerge before birth, with activations in the frontal lobe even in the first months of gestation. These discoveries are changing our understanding of the nature of cognitive networks and their early function, transforming cognitive neuroscience, and opening new windows for education and investigation. Infant neuroimaging also has tremendous clinical potential, for both detecting atypical development and facilitating earlier intervention. Finally, we discuss the key technical developments that are enabling this nascent field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhodri Cusack
- Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gareth Ball
- Centre for the Developing Brain, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher D. Smyser
- Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics and Radiology, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Ghislaine Dehaene-Lambertz
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA DSV/I2BM, INSERM, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, Gif/Yvette, France
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Abstract
Advances in methodology have led to expanded application of resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to the study of term and prematurely born infants during the first years of life, providing fresh insight into the earliest forms of functional cerebral development. In this review, we detail our evolving understanding of the use of rs-fMRI for studying neonates. We initially focus on the biological processes of cortical development related to resting-state network development. We then review technical issues principally affecting neonatal investigations, including the effects of subject motion during acquisition and image distortions related to magnetic susceptibility effects. We next summarize the literature in which rs-fMRI is used to study normal brain development during the early postnatal period, the effects of prematurity, and the effects of cerebral injury. Finally, we review potential future directions for the field, such as the use of complementary imaging modalities and advanced analysis techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Smyser
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jeffrey J. Neil
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA,Corresponding author. Jeff Neil, MD, PhD, Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 333 Longwood Avenue, LO 450, Boston, MA 02115, phone (617) 355-6388, fax (617) 730-0284,
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