Monitoring blood oxygenation changes due to acute pain stimuli using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

We've used Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a noninvasive tool to monitor blood oxygenation due to the acute pain stimuli. The aim of the study was to find a relationship between the signals recorded by activation of the anterior cingulated cortex (ACC) in healthy subjects, who experience pain via stimulation, and the subject reported pain. These findings will shed light on pain related cognitive studies. Based on our findings, we believe that the fNIRS can be used as a tool for monitoring pain in the brain as well as an effective tool for monitoring the objective efficiency of the pain treatments. Results have shown a correlation between the fNIRS signal and patients' subjective pain level (mild, moderate and severe) which is evidence that the fNIRS is a useful tool for monitoring objective pain response.