Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Exploring Cognitive Functions in Babies, Children & Adults with Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: July 28, 2009
A scoping review of functional near-infrared spectroscopy studies of reading development in children aged 6-12
Devon A Bode1, Saisha S Rankaduwa1, Laura M Elliott1
1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 6287 Alumni Cr., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Significance:
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers several advantages for neuroimaging in children, yet its use in research on cognitive development, particularly reading, remains limited.
Aim:
This scoping review focuses on fNIRS studies examining reading development in school-aged children (6-12 years), with four goals: (1) characterize methodological parameters, including stimuli and tasks; (2) identify brain regions showing fNIRS signal changes during reading and across development; (3) document technical fNIRS methods; (4) assess adherence to best practice in fNIRS reporting.
Approach:
We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, gray literature, and reference lists.
Results:
Reading-related fNIRS activation was most frequently observed in the inferior frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus. However, only seven studies directly examined developmental changes in reading using fNIRS. A consistent issue across studies was underreporting of technical methods and incomplete adherence to recommended best practices for fNIRS data collection and analysis.
Conclusions:
To advance the field, future fNIRS research on reading development should (1) follow established reporting guidelines, (2) ensure adequate brain region coverage when designing probe arrays, and (3) prioritize longitudinal and developmental investigations to better capture changes in brain function during reading development.
Related Concept Videos
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
The Scope of Physics
Uncertainty in Measurement: Reading Instruments
Fruit Development, Structure, and Function
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
Review and Preview
Percentiles are a type of fractile that partition data into...

