Psychedelics and fNIRS neuroimaging: exploring new opportunities

Neurophotonics. 2023 Jan;10(1):013506. doi: 10.1117/1.NPh.10.1.013506. Epub 2022 Dec 2.

Abstract

In this Outlook paper, we explain to the optical neuroimaging community as well as the psychedelic research community the great potential of using optical neuroimaging with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to further explore the changes in brain activity induced by psychedelics. We explain why we believe now is the time to exploit the momentum of the current resurgence of research on the effects of psychedelics and the momentum of the increasing progress and popularity of the fNIRS technique to establish fNIRS in psychedelic research. With this article, we hope to contribute to this development.

Keywords: altered states of consciousness; functional near-infrared spectroscopy; optical neuroimaging; psychedelics.