Somatosensory evoked changes in cerebral oxygen consumption measured non-invasively in premature neonates

► We know little of brain metabolism during functional activation in neonates. ► This is a major obstacle in studies of early brain function and cognition. ► We combined three near infrared spectroscopy techniques. ► We stimulated the somatosensory cortex of premature neonates. ► We measured functional changes in the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption.