Abstract #2474

Characterisation of the BOLD Signal Haemodynamic Response Function (HRF) in the Neonatal Somatosensory Cortex

Tomoki Arichi¹, Gianlorenzo Fagiolo², Alejandro Melendez³, Nazakat Merchant¹, Nora Tusor¹, Serena J. Counsell¹, Etienne Burdet³, Christian F. Beckmann⁴, A. David Edwards¹

¹Neonatal Medicine Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; ²Imaging Physics Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London; ³Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London; ⁴Mathematical Imaging Neuroscience, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Using a simple somatosensory stimulus and a short-stimulus event related experimental design, we aimed to characterise the morphology of the Haemodynamic Response Function (HRF) in the newborn brain. In comparison to the canonical adult waveform, it was identified that the HRF in newborn infants has a smaller positive peak amplitude with a longer lag time to the peak, and a proportionality deeper negative undershoot period. These results are likely due to differences in neurovascular coupling and may explain the previous inconsistencies utilising the technique in the newborn population.