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Anatomical guidance for functional near-infrared spectroscopy: AtlasViewer tutorial
Christopher M Aasted1, Meryem A Yücel2, Robert J Cooper3
1Center for Pain and the Brain , Harvard Medical School, 1 Autumn Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States ; Department of Anesthesiology , Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) software, AtlasViewer, enhances brain imaging analysis by enabling structural guidance for interpreting results. This tool aids in probe placement and sensitivity estimation for improved anatomical interpretation of fNIRS studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive optical imaging technique measuring cerebral hemoglobin concentration changes during brain activation.
- Interpreting fNIRS results is enhanced by structural guidance, which also facilitates inter-study comparisons.
- Existing methods lack comprehensive tools for integrating structural information into fNIRS data analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce AtlasViewer, an open-source software package designed to provide structural guidance for fNIRS studies.
- To detail the functionalities of AtlasViewer for probe registration, error evaluation, sensitivity estimation, and image reconstruction.
- To enable improved anatomical interpretation of fNIRS results using both generic and subject-specific head atlases.
Main Methods:
- Development of AtlasViewer, an open-source software with multiple spatial registration tools.
- Description of AtlasViewer's graphical user interface, folder structure, and required user files for fNIRS probe creation.
- Procedures for evaluating probe fabrication error, intersubject variability, measurement sensitivity, and image reconstruction performance.
Main Results:
- AtlasViewer facilitates the creation of fNIRS probes registered to specific head locations.
- The software allows for the evaluation of probe fabrication errors and placement variability.
- AtlasViewer supports the estimation of measurement sensitivity across different brain regions and assesses image reconstruction performance.
Conclusions:
- AtlasViewer provides a valuable tool for enhancing the anatomical interpretation of fNIRS studies.
- The software integrates structural guidance, improving the reliability and comparability of fNIRS research.
- AtlasViewer supports both generic and subject-specific anatomical atlases for flexible data interpretation.
