Neurovascular coupling methods in healthy individuals using transcranial doppler ultrasonography: A systematic review and consensus agreement

James D. Ball, Eleanor Hills, Afzaa Altaf, Pranav Ramesh, Matthew Green, Farhaana B.S. Surti, Jatinder S. Minhas, Thompson G. Robinson, Bert Bond, Alice Lester, Ryan Hoiland, Timo Klein, Jia Liu, Nathalie Nasr, Rehan T. Junejo, Martin Müller, Andrea Lecchini-Visintini, Georgios Mitsis, Joel S. Burma, Jonathan D. SmirlMichael A. Pizzi, Elsa Manquat, Samuel J. E. Lucas, Karen J. Mullinger, Steve Mayhew, Damian M. Bailey, Gabriel Rodrigues, Pedro Paulo Soares, Aaron A. Phillips, Prokopis C. Prokopiou, Lucy C. Beishon

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the perturbation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) to meet varying metabolic demands induced by various levels of neural activity. NVC may be assessed by Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD), using task activation protocols, but with significant methodological heterogeneity between studies, hindering cross-study comparisons. Therefore, this review aimed to summarise and compare available methods for TCD-based healthy NVC assessments. Medline (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE (Ovid) and CINAHL were searched using a predefined search strategy (PROSPERO: CRD42019153228), generating 6006 articles. Included studies contained TCD-based assessments of NVC in healthy adults. Study quality was assessed using a checklist, and findings were synthesised narratively. 76 studies (2697 participants) met the review criteria. There was significant heterogeneity in the participant position used (e.g., seated vs supine), in TCD equipment, and vessel insonated (e.g. middle, posterior, and anterior cerebral arteries). Larger, more significant, TCD-based NVC responses typically included a seated position, baseline durations >one-minute, extraneous light control, and implementation of previously validated protocols. In addition, complementary, combined position, vessel insonated and stimulation type protocols were associated with more significant NVC results. Recommendations are detailed here, but further investigation is required in patient populations, for further optimisation of TCD-based NVC assessments.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1409-1429
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
Volume44
Issue number12
Early online date7 Aug 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Data Access Statement

This was a systematic review of existing research studies and no primary research was conducted

Keywords

  • healthy
  • narrative summary
  • neurovascular coupling
  • systematic review
  • transcranial doppler ultrasonography

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