Simulation study of speckle contrast optical tomography performance using an anatomical head model

High-density speckle contrast optical tomography (HD-SCOT) is attractive for imaging cerebral blood flow (CBF), with desirable cost and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Previous studies showed feasibility of HD-SCOT in rodent models using lab instruments. To investigate potential performance for a dedicated HD-SCOT instrument, we simulated HD-SCOT imaging for an anatomical head model. We evaluated potential imaging performance versus depth for varying exposure times and measurement availability. Results showed that an HD-SCOT system could have image resolution of 13 mm full-width-half-maximum at 12 mm depth, with instrument parameters affecting localization error and SNR. These results will guide design of future research instruments