Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygenation and hemodynamics. It works by emitting near-infrared light into the scalp and measuring the amount of light absorbed or scattered by oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the underlying cortical tissue. Because these changes are linked to neural activation, fNIRS provides an indirect measure of brain function, similar to fMRI but with greater portability and tolerance for movement. This makes it particularly useful for studying cognition in naturalistic settings, developmental populations, and clinical environments where traditional imaging methods are impractical.
Workshop topics
The workshop gives an introduction to functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with emphasis on three setups:
- Multimethod experiments: Collecting experimental data from several sources (eye tracking, motion sensors/capture, and fNIRS). Relevant for a range of experimental designs and research questions.
- Hyper scanning: Simultaneous data collection from two or more participants. Relevant for interaction research like social psychology, music studies, and therapy settings.
- Brain interfacing: Controlling external devices with fNIRS. Relevant for studies interested in brain training or how brain data can be translated into visual and auditory displays.
Preliminary program
| 10:00–10:30 | Introduction to fNIRS (including basics of experimental design) |
| 10:30–12:00 | Demo 1: Go/No-Go cognitive task (single-person setup, including preparation, a 30-minute task, and hands-on interaction) |
| 12:00–13:00 | Lunch break |
| 13:00–14:30 | Demo 2: Hyperscanning (two-person setup using Dual Brite devices, 30-minute task, preparation, and hands-on session) |
| 14:30–15:00 | Hyperscanning data analysis in Satori (Including fNIRS preprocessing steps and a demonstration of brain inter synchrony analysis) |
| 15:00–16:00 | Demo 3: Brain interfacing (single-person setup, controlling sound synthesis in realtime) |
| 16:00–17:00 | Discussion |
Participation
Due to space constraints, the workshop is limited to 20 participants.