Tracking Functional Brain Connectivity Dynamics by Near-infrared Spectroscopy: Methodology and Applications
Abstract: Assessing resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an emerging technology to investigate the functional integration of human brain. Taking advantage of portable, cost-effective, and suitable for everyone and everywhere features of NIRS, NIRS-RSFC has demonstrated a huge potential for brain development research of infants and clinical applications with large sample datasets. To date, all NIRS-RSFC studies are based on the steady-state assumption, but a lot of evidences from functional magnetic resonance imaging have shown that the real-time dynamics of RSFC are considerable. Assessing the dynamics of RSFC has potential to provide further evidence to investigate brain functional integration, and to find a more sensitive indicator for disease diagnosis. To this end, this project intends to investigate, for the first time, the dynamic behavior of NIRS-RSFC. Firstly, we will solve the dynamic interference of two kinds of NIRS noise. Then, we will purpose a framework processing to reveal hidden "microstate" pattern of NIRS-RSFC dynamics. Finally, the reliability of the framework processing will be verified in clinical applications of mental illness based on a large sample dataset. Compared with traditional steady-state analysis, dynamic analysis of NIRS-RSFC has potential to find more effective feature for disease diagnosis. Therefore, this project not only is innovative, but also has practical value and clinical significance.
Keywords: resting-state brain function; near-infrared spectroscopy; dynamic functional connectivity
Contact:
ZHANG Yujin
E-mail: yujin.zhang@nlpr.ia.ac.cn