NIRS

Near-infrared spectroscopy uses light to estimate brain activity.  You may have used a similar technology, pulse oximetry, at the doctor’s office to measure your pulse by putting your finger putting a small sleeve with a red light in it.  Instead of shining light on your finger, we shine it on your or your child’s head.  To do so, participants (infants, children, or adults) wear a cloth cap (looks like a swim cap) with light sources and detectors embedded in it.  While wearing this cap the participant will view pictures and/or hear sounds.  This method is safe for use with any age participant including newborn infants, children, and adults.  The amount of light exposure is no more than routinely encountered in daily activities. 

For a detailed description of the biological and mathematical details of this technique please read here and here.

Brain and Cognitive Development Lab

Dept. of Psychology

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

157 Psychology Building

603 East Daniel St.

Champaign, IL  61820

217-300-2934

bcdlab@illinois.edu

© Brain and Cognitive Development Lab 2012