Language
Country/Area
No result found
Reading brain secrets from light: How does fNIRS capture subtle changes in the brain?
As technology advances, scientists are increasingly using non-invasive methods to understand how the brain works. Among them, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has shown great potential in studying the human brain. This technology uses near-infrared light to capture the brain's response to external stimuli, helping researchers analyze tiny changes in the brain.
fNIRS is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that uses near-infrared light to measure cortical hemodynamic activity.
The working principle of fNIRS is relatively simple. It estimates changes in hemoglobin concentration by emitting near-infrared light and observing the degree of light absorption. Because hemoglobin absorbs near-infrared light, fNIRS can measure changes in blood flow in brain tissue, particularly in superficial areas of the cerebral cortex. This allows fNIRS to be used in a complementary manner with other neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) to provide more comprehensive brain information.
History of fNIRS
As early as 1977, Jöbsis proposed using near-infrared light to measure the oxygenation status of brain tissue. With the advancement of technology, fNIRS was first successfully used in adult research in 1993, which promoted the development of this field. Today, this technology has branded products and continues to make breakthroughs in practical applications, especially in the development of wearable devices.
fNIRS technology allows us to continuously observe brain activity without interference.
Application scope of fNIRS
fNIRS is not only used in basic scientific research, but also has shown important value in many fields such as clinical medicine, psychology and brain-computer interface. Studies have shown that this technology performs well in monitoring brain function, assessing cognitive status and diagnosing diseases.
Potential for clinical applicationsIn medicine, fNIRS is used to assess the effects of hypoxia and to monitor cerebral blood flow in patients after surgery. For extremely premature infants, fNIRS can be used to monitor brain hypoxia and changes in cerebral blood flow, which plays a vital role in reducing the risk of brain damage. In addition, this technology is also used during many cardiac surgeries to monitor the patient's brain oxygenation so that timely intervention can be made.
Technology advantages and challenges
The main advantages of fNIRS are its non-invasiveness, low cost, and portability. This allows researchers to conduct experiments in a variety of settings, from the laboratory to the clinical setting and even in everyday life. However, since fNIRS signals mainly come from the surface brain tissue, this also leads to some challenges in effectively measuring deeper brain regions.
Although fNIRS cannot completely replace other imaging techniques such as fMRI, it provides a new way to observe brain activity.
Future Outlook
With the development of technology, fNIRS in the future will be more miniaturized and intelligent, and can even be combined with artificial intelligence for data analysis. We can imagine that this technology will have wider applications in areas such as mental health, education, and cognitive science. But could this continued rise in technology change our understanding of the brain?
