Functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a continuous wave type based system for human frontal lobe studies

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive optical brain monitoring technique.
• Its portability and suitability for long-term studies make it valuable in neurosciences and education.
• Previous research highlights fNIRS's potential for various brain studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the methodological concepts and applications of fNIRS.
• To introduce a novel continuous wave fNIRS (cw-fNIRS) system.
• To validate the developed cw-fNIRS system against a commercial device.

Main Methods:

• Development of a continuous wave fNIRS (cw-fNIRS) system based on optical engineering principles.
• Validation of the cw-fNIRS system by comparison with the commercial Biopac fNIR400 device.
• Comparative analysis of geometry, recorded data, and statistical outcomes between the two systems.

Main Results:

• The developed cw-fNIRS system demonstrated comparable hemodynamic responses to the commercial fNIR400 device.
• Geometric and statistical analyses confirmed the similarity in recorded brain activity.
• The system proved effective for frontal lobe studies and physiological measurements.

Conclusions:

• The developed cw-fNIRS system is a viable tool for human brain studies.
• This system can serve as a guideline for researchers developing specific fNIRS applications.
• fNIRS technology holds significant promise for both research and educational settings.