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11 July 2022 Systemic physiology augmented functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a powerful approach to study the embodied human brain
Felix Scholkmann, Ilias Tachtsidis, Martin Wolf, Ursula Wolf
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Abstract

In this Outlook paper, we explain why an accurate physiological interpretation of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging signals is facilitated when systemic physiological activity (e.g., cardiorespiratory and autonomic activity) is measured simultaneously by employing systemic physiology augmented functional near-infrared spectroscopy (SPA-fNIRS). The rationale for SPA-fNIRS is twofold: (i) SPA-fNIRS enables a more complete interpretation and understanding of the fNIRS signals measured at the head since they contain components originating from neurovascular coupling and from systemic physiological sources. The systemic physiology signals measured with SPA-fNIRS can be used for regressing out physiological confounding components in fNIRS signals. Misinterpretations can thus be minimized. (ii) SPA-fNIRS enables to study the embodied brain by linking the brain with the physiological state of the entire body, allowing novel insights into their complex interplay. We envisage the SPA-fNIRS approach will become increasingly important in the future.

CC BY: © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.
Felix Scholkmann, Ilias Tachtsidis, Martin Wolf, and Ursula Wolf "Systemic physiology augmented functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a powerful approach to study the embodied human brain," Neurophotonics 9(3), 030801 (11 July 2022). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.NPh.9.3.030801
Received: 15 February 2022; Accepted: 7 June 2022; Published: 11 July 2022
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CITATIONS
Cited by 28 scholarly publications.
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KEYWORDS
Brain

Physiology

Hemodynamics

Near infrared spectroscopy

Neuroimaging

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Neurophotonics

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