Subject-specific information enhances spatial accuracy of high-density diffuse optical tomography.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a widely used imaging method for mapping brain activation based on cerebral hemodynamics. The accurate quantification of cortical activation using fNIRS data is highly dependent on the ability to correctly localize the positions of light sources and photodetectors on the scalp surface. Variations in head size and shape across participants greatly impact the precise locations of these optodes and consequently, the regions of the cortical surface being reached.

Audiotactile Stimulation Can Improve Syllable Discrimination through Multisensory Integration in the Theta Frequency Band.

Syllables are an essential building block of speech. We recently showed that tactile stimuli linked to the perceptual centers of syllables in continuous speech can improve speech comprehension. The rate of syllables lies in the theta frequency range, between 4 and 8 Hz, and the behavioral effect appears linked to multisensory integration in this frequency band.

A promising tool to explore functional impairment in neurodegeneration: A systematic review of near-infrared spectroscopy in dementia.

This systematic review aimed to evaluate previous studies which used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in dementia given its suitability as a diagnostic and investigative tool in this population. From 800 identified records which used NIRS in dementia and prodromal stages, 88 studies were evaluated which employed a range of tasks testing memory (29), word retrieval (24), motor (8) and visuo-spatial function (4), and which explored the resting state (32). Across these domains, dementia exhibited blunted haemodynamic responses, often localised to frontal regions of interest, and a lack of task-appropriate frontal lateralisation.

Illuminating neurodegeneration: a future perspective on near-infrared spectroscopy in dementia research.

Significance: Dementia presents a global healthcare crisis, and neuroimaging is the main method for developing effective diagnoses and treatments. Yet currently, there is a lack of sensitive, portable, and low-cost neuroimaging tools. As dementia is associated with vascular and metabolic dysfunction, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has the potential to fill this gap.

Achieving change in the NHS: a study to explore the feasibility of a home-based cancer chemotherapy service.

A major focus of current health policy in the United Kingdom is the development of services that meet the public's expectations. To achieve this there is a need to evaluate current provision to ensure that the best use is made of finite resources. The study reported here adopted an interview approach to examine an existing outpatient chemotherapy service, and to consider the feasibility of introducing a home based model.