Functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIR or fNIRS), is the use of NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy) for the purpose of functional neuroimaging. Using fNIR, brain activity is measured through hemodynamic responses associated with neuron behavior.
fNIR is a non-invasive imaging method involving the quantification of chromophore concentration resolved from the measurement of near infrared (NIR) light attenuation, temporal or phasic changes. NIR spectrum light takes advantage of the optical window in which skin, tissue, and bone are mostly transparent to NIR light in the spectrum of 700-900 nm, while hemoglobin (Hb) and deoxygenated-hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) are stronger absorbers of light. Differences in the absorption spectra of deoxy-Hb and oxy-Hb allow the measurement of relative changes in hemoglobin concentration through the use of light attenuation at multiple wavelengths. Two or more wavelengths are selected, with one wavelength above and one below the isosbestic point of 810 nm at which deoxy-Hb and oxy-Hb have identical absorption coefficients. Using the modified Beer-Lambert law (mBLL), relative concentration can be calculated as a function of total photon path length. Typically the light emitter and detector are placed ipsilaterally on the subjects skull so recorded measurements are due to back-scattered (reflected) light following elliptical pathways.
The use of fNIR as a functional imaging method relies on the principle of neuro-vascular coupling also known as the Haemodynamic response or BOLD (Blood-Oxygenation-Level-Dependent) response. This principle also forms the core of fMRI techniques. Through neuro-vascular coupling, neuronal activity is linked to related changes in localized cerebral blood flow. fNIR and fMRI are sensitive to similar physiologic changes and are often comparative methods. Studies relating fMRI and fNIR show highly correlated results in cognitive tasks. fNIR has several advantages in cost and portability over fMRI, but cannot be used to measure cortical activity more than 4 cm deep due to limitations in light emitter power and has more limited spatial resolution. fNIR includes the use of Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT/NIRDOT) for functional purposes.
In 1977, Jobsis reported that brain tissue transparency to NIR light allowed a non-invasive and continuous method of tissue oxygen saturation using a trans-illumination technique. Tran-illumination techniques are of limited utility in adults because of light attenuation and was quickly replaced by reflectance-mode based techniques. Development of NIRS systems proceeded rapidly and by 1985, the first studies on cerebral oxygenation were conducted by M. Ferrari. NIRS techniques were expanded on by the work of Randall Barbour, Briton Chance, Arno Villringer, M. Cope, D. T. Delpy and others.
There are four current methods of fNIR Spectroscopy. Multiplexing fNIR channels can allow 2D topographic functional maps of brain activity (ex: Hitatchi ETG-4000) while using multiple emitter spacings may be used to build 3D tomographic maps.
Continuous wave (CW)
Continuous wave fNIR uses light sources which emit light at a constant frequency and amplitude. Changes in light intensity can be related to changes in relative concentrations of hemoglobin through the modified Beer–Lambert law (mBLL).
Where is the optical density or attenuation, is emitted light intensity, is measured light intensity, is the extinction coefficient, is the chromophomore concentration, is the distance between source and detector and is the differential path length factor, and is a geometric factor associated with scattering.
When the extinction coefficients are known, constant scattering loss is assumed, and the measurements are treated differentially, the equation reduces to:
Where is the total corrected photon path-length.
Using a dual wavelength system, measurements for oxy-Hb (HbO2) and Deoxy-Hb(Hb) can be solved from the matrix equation:
Due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness, CW technologies are by far the most common form of functional NIRS. Measurement of absolute changes in concentration with the mBLL requires the knowledge of photon path-length. Continuous wave methods do not have any knowledge of photon path-length and so changes in concentration are relative to an unknown path-length. Many CW-fNIR commercial systems use estimations of photon path-length derived from computerized Monte-Carlo simulations and physical models to provide absolute quantification of hemoglobin concentrations.
Simplicity of principle allows CW devices to be rapidly developed for different applications such as neo-natal care, patient monitoring systems, optical tomography systems, and more. Wireless CW systems have been developed, allowing monitoring of individuals in ambulatory environments.
Frequency Domain (FD)
In frequency domain systems, NIR laser sources provide an amplitude modulated sinusoid at frequencies of several megahertz. Changes in the back-scattered signal's amplitude and phase provide information on changes in the concentration of hemoglobin and provide direct measurement of absorption coefficients obviating the need for information about photon path-length. Because of the need for modulated lasers as well as phasic measurements, frequency domain systems are more technically complex, less portable, and more expensive than continuous wave systems. However these systems are capable of providing absolute concentrations of Hb and deoxy-Hb.
In time-resolved spectroscopy, a very short NIR pulse is introduced with a pulse length usually on the order of picoseconds. Through time-of-flight measurements, photon path-length may be directly observed by dividing resolved time by the speed of light. Because of the need for high-speed detection and high-speed emitters, time-resolved methods are the most expensive and technically complicated method. Information about hemodynamic changes can be found in the attenuation, decay, and time profile of the back-scattered signal.
Spatially-Resolved Spectroscopy (SRS)
SRS systems use localized gradients in light attenuation to determine absolute ratios of oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb. Using a spatial measurement, SRS systems do not require knowledge of photon path-length to make this calculation, however measured concentrations of oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb are relative to the unknown coefficient of scattering in the media. This technique is most commonly used in cerebral oxymetry systems that report a Tissue Oxygenation Index (TOI).
Brain Computer Interface (BCI)
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- Artinis Medical Systems
- Lab of BC at University of Pennsylvania
- Optical Brain Imaging Lab at Drexel University
- NIR-X DOT systems
- Hitatchi ETG-4000 NIR Optical Topography system
- Brainsight NIRS
- Functional NIRS using DOT tutorial
- Biopac fNIR FAQ
- NIRO tissue oxygenation systems
- Petitto Neuroscience Lab: What is fNIRS?)
- fNIRS Society
- MRRA Inc. fNIRS Systems
- Gowerlabs NTS Optical Brain Imaging System
- Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory at University College London