Fetal brain activity and hemodynamic response to a vibroacoustic stimulus

Previous studies have demonstrated the practicality of using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques to assess fetal brain activity. The purpose of this study was to compare the fetal hemodynamic response to that of the adult. Seventeen pregnant subjects, all of whom were at more than 36 weeks gestation were scanned while the fetus was exposed to a vibroacoustic stimulus. Thirteen adult subjects were scanned with an equivalent acoustic stimulus. Of the fetal subjects, two could not be analyzed due to technical problems, eight did not show significant activation, and seven showed significant activation. In all cases, activation was localized within the temporal region. Measures of fetal hemodynamic responses revealed an average time to peak (ttp) of 7.36 +/- 0.94 sec and an average percentage change of 2.67 +/- 0.93%. In contrast, activation was detected in 5 of 13 adults with an average ttp of 6.54 +/- 0.54 sec and an average percentage change of 1.02 +/- 0.40%. The measurement of changes in the fetal hemodynamic response may be important in assessing compromised pregnancies.