Functional neuroimaging systems are becoming more lightweight and portable in nature, which is valuable to conduct studies in naturalistic - such as homes, schools, and offices – and low-resource settings. However, most portable neuroimaging systems require skilled experts to ensure accurate functionality and reliable data collection. Our group has developed a new strategy for neuroimager alignment and coupling evaluation (NACE) that leverages augmented reality to allow lay users to independently ensure that an fNIRS device is correctly aligned and properly coupled to their scalp. The strategy would enable widespread adoption of prefrontal cortex neuroimaging data collected in naturalistic and low-resource settings.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an optical imaging technique for assessing human brain activity by noninvasively measuring the fluctuation of cerebral oxygenated- and deoxygenated-hemoglobin concentrations associated with neuronal activity. Owing to its superior mobility, low cost, and good tolerance for motion, the past few decades have witnessed a rapid increase in the research and clinical use of fNIRS in a variety of psychiatric disorders. In this perspective article, we first briefly summarize the state-of-the-art concerning fNIRS research in psychiatry. In particular, we highlight the diverse applications of fNIRS in psychiatric research, the advanced development of fNIRS instruments, and novel fNIRS study designs for exploring brain activity associated with psychiatric disorders. We then discuss some of the open challenges and share our perspectives on the future of fNIRS in psychiatric research and clinical practice. We conclude that fNIRS holds promise for becoming a useful tool in clinical psychiatric settings with respect to developing closed-loop systems and improving individualized treatments and diagnostics.
Neuroimaging studies struggle from inter- and intra-subject variability of collected data. To overcome these barriers to statistical significance, researchers are pursuing naturalistic neuroimaging to increase the statistical power of their investigations. Although numerous devices have become available for prefrontal cortex imaging, fNIRS systems continue to struggle with significant weight (>200g) and dependence on experts for setup. Our group has developed an ergonomic fNIRS headset and an accompanying Android augmented reality (AR) app for system setup by lay users. The combination of low-cost technology with user-friendly guidance for accurate setup will enable new studies in naturalistic conditions.
The development of portable functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems has been widely investigated for neurology (TBI/Epilepsy/Stroke) and psychiatry (ADD/Dementia) research and holds great opportunity for neurological injury prevention and rehabilitation in athletes and military personnel. However, widespread adoption of fNIRS has been precluded by systems’ weight, complexity, and cost. With focus on affordability, portability (weighs <150g), and comfort, our group has developed a 16-channel fNIRS headband with an accompanying phone application. Our wear-and-go design would help athletes and military personnel to easily provide fNIRS data during routine activities and facilitate big-data research to identify novel biomarkers related to neurological injury.
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