Non-invasive optical mapping of the piglet brain in real time

We have performed non-invasive, real-time optical mapping of the piglet bra in during a subcortical injection of autologous blood. The time resolution of the optical maps is 192 ms, thus allowing us to generate a real-time vid eo of the growing subcortical hematoma. The increased absorption at the sit e of blood injection is accompanied by a decreased absorption at the contra lateral brain side. This contralateral decrease in the optical absorption a nd the corresponding time traces of the cerebral hemoglobin parameters are consistent with a reduced cerebral blood flow caused by the increased intra cranial pressure. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.