Measurement of Brain Function Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)

Abstract

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has gained attention in recent years (Hoshi et al., 2001; Tamura, 2003). This non-invasive technique uses near-infrared light to evaluate increases or decreases in oxygenated hemoglobin or deoxygenated hemoglobin in tissues below the body surface. NIRS can detect the hemodynamics of the brain in real time while the subject is moving. Brain activity can therefore be measured in various environments. Recent research has used NIRS to measure brain activity in a train driver (Kojima et al., 2005, 2006). NIRS has also been used to evaluate the mental activity of an individual driving a car in a driving simulator (Shimizu et al., 2009).