Multiregional functional near-infrared spectroscopy reveals globally symmetrical and frequency-specific patterns of superficial interference

Biomed Opt Express. 2015 Jul 8;6(8):2786-802. doi: 10.1364/BOE.6.002786. eCollection 2015 Aug 1.

Abstract

Linear regression with short source-detector separation channels (S-channels) as references is an efficient way to overcome significant physiological interference from the superficial layer for functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). However, the co-located configuration of S-channels and long source-detector separation channels (L-channels) is difficult to achieve in practice. In this study, we recorded superficial interference with S-channels in multiple scalp regions. We found that superficial interference has overall frequency-specific and globally symmetrical patterns. The performance of linear regression is also dependent on these patterns, indicating the possibility of simplifying the S-channel configurations for multiregional fNIRS imaging.

Keywords: (170.2655) Functional monitoring and imaging; (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging; (170.5380) Physiology; (170.6960) Tomography.