Quantitative assessment of hemodynamic and structural characteristics of brain tissue using total diffuse reflectance spectrum measured in a non-contact fashion.

Here we present a new methodology that investigates the intrinsic structural and hemodynamic characteristics of brain tissue, in a non-contact fashion, and can be easily incorporated in an intra-operative environment. Within this methodology, relative total diffuse reflectance spectra (R(λ)) were acquired from targets using a hybrid spectroscopy imaging system. A spectral interpretation algorithm was subsequently applied to R(λ) to retrieve optical properties related to the compositional and structural characteristics of each target.

Dysfunction of Neurovascular/Metabolic Coupling in Chronic Focal Epilepsy.

Goal: We aim to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the neurovascular/metabolic coupling in the epileptogenic cortices of rats with chronic focal epilepsy.

Methods: We performed and analyzed intracranial recordings obtained from the seizure-onset zones during ictal periods on epileptic rats, and then, used these data to fit a metabolically coupled balloon model. Normal rats undergoing forepaw stimulation were used as control.