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About fNIRS

Principles of fNIRS MRI brain with photon bananas.png

Near-infrared light is emitted by the source (S), passes through the brain (yellow "photon banana") and returns to the scalp where it is detected (D). Changes in oxygenated haemoglobin in the brain cortex between each source and detector are measured.

  • The brain is stimulated, neurons start firing 

  • This requires an increase in energy 

  • An increase in energy requires an increase in oxygen to that local region 

  • Neurovascular coupling drives an increase in cerebral blood flow, an increase in oxygenated blood and a decrease in de-oxygenated blood to that region 

  • The change in oxygen levels in that region is recorded  

  • It is analyzed relative to a baseline measurement 

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