Non-invasive assessment of neurovascular coupling in the time range of milliseconds

Background and Purpose: The objective of the present study was to investigate cortical neuronal and vascular changes as well as their interaction in physiological and pathological conditions. Using simultaneously non-invasive DC-magnetoencephalography (dcMEG) and multichannel, time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy (trNIRS) the changes in neuronal and vascular signals as well as their coupling processes were characterized. We used a unique DC-MEG recording technique which became feasible inside the new Berlin magnetically shielded room (BMSR 2). This technique allows to characterize fast dynamics of neurovascu…