NONINVASIVE FUNCTIONAL MAPPING OF THE HUMAN MOTOR CORTEX USING NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

WE applied non-invasive multisite near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess oxygenation changes during performance of a sequential finger opposition task in five healthy human adults. Oxygenation response was localized anatomically using three-dimensional high-resolution magnet ic resonance imaging (3D MRI). NIRS measurements showed a localized in crease in [oxy-Hb] and a decrease in [deoxy-Hb] in all subjects. The l argest response was obtained when the measurement position was over th e primary motor and sensory cortex hand area. Interestingly, changes i n [deoxy-Hb] seemed to be more localized than changes in [oxy-Hb]. We conclude that this simple, non-invasive and flexible optical bedside m ethod may be used for functional brain mapping.