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Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive optical imaging technique, the guiding principle of which is that the chromophores oxygenated haemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and deoxygenated haemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) absorb light at different wavelengths. Therefore, by measuring the amount of light absorbance at a two nominal wavelengths (~765 and 855 nm), the concentrations of oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb, respectively, can be calculated. Infrared light is introduced through the skull via a laser emitter and measured, following transit through the upper surface of the cortex, by an optode placed at a pre-set distance from the light source. In this way NIRS can be used as a measure of activation of neural tissue or simply as a measure of local cerebral blood flow.

Capability

Local cerebral blood flow utilising 2, 4, 8 and 12 channel arrays.

Equipment

Hardware: 12 channel Oxymon Mk III (Artinis Medical Systems b.v.).

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Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre
School of Life Sciences
4th Floor, Northumberland Building
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST

t: 44 (0) 191 2048818
e: bpnrc@northumbria.ac.uk

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