Co-localized optode-electrode design for multimodal functional near infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Mobile brain imaging in real-world settings is crucial for translating neuroscience research.
• Combined functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) offer insights into brain activity but face limitations in modularity and portability, especially for high-density (HD) measurements.
• Existing cap designs restrict the integration of HD-fNIRS with EEG.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test custom fNIRS sources that integrate directly with EEG electrodes.
• To enhance the modularity and portability of combined fNIRS-EEG systems for mobile brain imaging.
• To validate the utility of co-located fNIRS and EEG optodes in a cognitive task.

Main Methods:

• Custom fNIRS sources were designed to attach to EEG electrodes.
• Potential interference between fNIRS sources and EEG signals was assessed.
• A high-density fNIRS-EEG measurement was conducted during a modified Stroop task with co-located opto-electrode positions.

Main Results:

• No observable interference was detected between the fNIRS source optodes and EEG spectral analysis.
• Performance, fNIRS, and EEG data from the Stroop task aligned with previous research findings.
• Increased brain activation was observed in regions of interest using both fNIRS and EEG.

Conclusions:

• The co-localization of fNIRS sources and EEG electrodes is a viable and promising approach for multimodal brain imaging.
• This method overcomes limitations in modularity and portability, facilitating real-time, ecologically valid neuroscience research.
• The developed custom fNIRS sources enable enhanced mobile brain imaging capabilities.