Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Using Fiberless, Wearable fNIRS to Monitor Brain Activity in Real-world Cognitive Tasks
Published on: December 2, 2015
Oxyhemoglobin changes in the prefrontal cortex in response to cognitive tasks: a systematic review
Leandro Viçosa Bonetti1,2, Syed A Hassan1,3, Sin-Tung Lau4,5
1a Department of Physical Therapy , University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada.
This review of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) studies shows cognitive tasks, particularly working memory and verbal fluency, consistently alter oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) levels in healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique.
- fNIRS measures changes in blood oxygenation in the brain.
- Understanding brain activity during cognitive tasks is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize findings from pre/post design studies using fNIRS.
- To investigate the effects of cognitive tasks versus resting states in healthy adults.
- To consolidate PFC fNIRS outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of seven major scientific databases.
- Inclusion criteria applied to original research studies.
- Two independent reviewers screened and assessed study eligibility.
Main Results:
- Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria.
- Cognitive tasks led to increased ΔO2Hb in 8/11 studies.
- Cognitive tasks led to decreased ΔHHb in 8/8 studies.
- Working memory and verbal fluency tasks were most common.
Conclusions:
- Despite methodological heterogeneity, consistent patterns emerged.
- Cognitive tasks reliably modulate brain oxygenation.
- fNIRS is a viable tool for studying cognitive processes.
More Related Videos
13:20Online Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Dorsomedial and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Cognition Decision Making, and Cognitive Dissonance
Published on: December 5, 2025
10:33Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
Published on: June 20, 2012
Related Concept Videos
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
Review and Preview
Percentiles are a type of fractile that partition data into...
Review and Preview
Cognitive Dissonance
Random and Systematic Errors
Systematic Sampling Method
Systematic sampling is one of the simplest methods...