An Online Database of Infant Functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy Studies: A Community-Augmented Systematic Review

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Abstract

Until recently, imaging the infant brain was very challenging. Functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a promising, relatively novel technique, whose use is rapidly expanding. As an emergent field, it is particularly important to share methodological knowledge to ensure replicable and robust results. In this paper, we present a community-augmented database which will facilitate precisely this exchange. We tabulated articles and theses reporting empirical fNIRS research carried out on infants below three years of age along several methodological variables. The resulting spreadsheet has been uploaded in a format allowing individuals to continue adding new results, and download the most recent version of the table. Thus, this database is ideal to carry out systematic reviews. We illustrate its academic utility by focusing on the factors affecting three key variables: infant attrition, the reliability of oxygenated and deoxygenated responses, and signal-to-noise ratios. We then discuss strengths and weaknesses of the DBIfNIRS, and conclude by suggesting a set of simple guidelines aimed to facilitate methodological convergence through the standardization of reports.

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Beyond the visible--imaging the human brain with light.

Hellmuth Obrig, Arno Villringer (2002)

Optical approaches to investigate cerebral function and metabolism have long been applied in invasive studies. From the neuron cultured to the exposed cortex in the human during neurosurgical procedures, high spatial resolution can be reached and several processes such as membrane potential, cell swelling, metabolism of mitochondrial chromophores, and vascular response can be monitored, depending on the respective preparation. The authors focus on an extension of optical methods to the noninvasive application in the human. Starting with the pioneering work of Jöbsis 25 years ago, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to investigate functional activation of the human cerebral cortex. Recently, several groups have started to use imaging systems that allow the generation of images of a larger area of the subject's head and, thereby, the production of maps of cortical oxygenation changes. Such images have a much lower spatial resolution compared with the invasively obtained optical images. The noninvasive NIRS images, however, can be obtained in undemanding set-ups that can be easily combined with other functional methods, in particular EEG. Moreover, NIRS is applicable to bedside use. The authors briefly review some of the abundant literature on intrinsic optical signals and the NIRS imaging studies of the past few years. The weaknesses and strengths of the approach are critically discussed. The authors conclude that NIRS imaging has two major advantages: it can address issues concerning neurovascular coupling in the human adult and can extend functional imaging approaches to the investigation of the diseased brain.

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Optical imaging of infants' neurocognitive development: recent advances and perspectives.

Yasuyo Minagawa-Kawai, Koichi Mori, Jeremy C. Hebden … (2008)

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides a unique method of monitoring infant brain function by measuring the changes in the concentrations of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. During the past 10 years, NIRS measurement of the developing brain has rapidly expanded. In this article, a brief discussion of the general principles of NIRS, including its technical advantages and limitations, is followed by a detailed review of the role played so far by NIRS in the study of infant perception and cognition, including language, and visual and auditory functions. Results have highlighted, in particular, the developmental changes of cerebral asymmetry associated with speech acquisition. Finally, suggestions for future studies of neurocognitive development using NIRS are presented. Although NIRS studies of the infant brain have yet to fulfill their potential, a review of the work done so far indicates that NIRS is likely to provide many unique insights in the field of developmental neuroscience.

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Practicality of wavelength selection to improve signal-to-noise ratio in near-infrared spectroscopy.

Hiroki Sato, Atsushi Maki, F Kawaguchi … (2004)

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which can be used to detect changes in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) in tissue by using illumination at two different wavelengths, is often applied to noninvasive measurements of human brain functions. It is common to use two wavelengths that are on opposite sides of the point where the optical absorptions of oxy- and deoxy-Hb are equal (about 800 nm) but an optimal wavelength pair has not yet been determined. In this study, we conducted simultaneous recordings at five wavelengths (678, 692, 750, 782, and 830 nm) to determine the best wavelength for pairing with 830 nm. A theory suggests that pairing a shorter wavelength with 830 nm can provide more sensitivity because of the larger difference in absorption coefficients of hemoglobin between two wavelengths. The changes measured in four cortical areas (frontal, occipital, parietal, and temporal) showed that the noise level when the 678-, 692-, and 750-nm wavelengths were paired with 830 nm was usually lower than when the 782-nm wavelength was paired with 830 nm, which is consistent with theoretical prediction. Moreover, the signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns) and wavelength dependencies of the power detected in all areas and subjects together suggest that the 692-nm pairing had the highest S/N. This suggests that the optimal wavelengths depend on not only the difference in the absorption coefficients of hemoglobin but also on the optical properties in the measurement area, which affect the strength of the attenuation data. The 692-nm wavelength is thus a more optimal choice than wavelengths around 780 nm for pairing with 830 nm to measure Hb changes induced by cortical activation. The improved S/N enables more sensitive statistical analysis, which is essential to functional mapping with NIRS.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Vincent M. Reid: Role: Editor

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): PLoS One

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): PLoS ONE

Journal ID (publisher-id): plos

Journal ID (pmc): plosone

Title: PLoS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (San Francisco, USA )

ISSN (Electronic): 1932-6203

Publication date Collection: 2013

Publication date (Electronic): 15 March 2013

Volume: 8

Issue: 3

Electronic Location Identifier: e58906

Affiliations

[1 ]Neurobiology of Language, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

[2 ]Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales and Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France

[3 ]Graduate School of Human Relations, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan

[4 ]Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom

[5 ]Institut d'Etude de la Cognition, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France

Lancaster University, United Kingdom

Author notes

* E-mail: alecristia@ 123456gmail.com

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Conceived and designed the experiments: AC ED SLF JK LF SC YMK. Performed the experiments: SLF MS TB MvG AC YH. Analyzed the data: AC. Wrote the paper: AC YH ED SLF JK YMK MS TB MvG LF SC.

Article

Publisher ID: PONE-D-12-26983

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058906

PMC ID: 3598807

PubMed ID: 23554955

SO-VID: 45e4d787-e6bc-4787-bae1-e403c0cad464

License:

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

History

Date received : 6 September 2012

Date accepted : 8 February 2013

Page count

Pages: 10

Funding

AC acknowledges the funding support of Ecole de Neurosciences de Paris and Fondation Fyssen, ED that of Fondation de France, and YH and YMK that of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

An Online Database of Infant Functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy Studies: A Community-Augmented Systematic Review

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Most cited references 6

Beyond the visible--imaging the human brain with light.

Optical imaging of infants' neurocognitive development: recent advances and perspectives.

Practicality of wavelength selection to improve signal-to-noise ratio in near-infrared spectroscopy.

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