Applications of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to neurorehabilitation of cognitive disabilities

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a neuroimaging technique that utilizes light in the near-infrared spectrum (between 700 and 1000 nm) to detect hemodynamic changes within the cortex when sensory, motor, or cognitive activation occurs. FNIRS principles have been used to study brain oxygenation for several decades, but have more recently been applied to study cognitive processes. This paper provides a description of basic fNIRS techniques, and provides a review of the rehabilitation-related literature. The authors discuss strengths and weaknesses of this technique, assert that fNIRS may be particularly beneficial to neurorehabilitation of cognitive disabilities, and suggest future applications.