Validating the reproducibility of a low-cost single-channel fNIRS device across hierarchical cognitive tasks

Shiyang Xu; XingLing Zeng; Fuxian Yin; Chao Zhang

doi:10.3389/fnins.2024.1351341

Validating the reproducibility of a low-cost single-channel fNIRS device across hierarchical cognitive tasks

Front Neurosci. 2024 Apr 24:18:1351341. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1351341. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Shiyang Xu¹, XingLing Zeng^{2

3}, Fuxian Yin⁴, Chao Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Education Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, China.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macao SAR, China.
³ Centre for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macao SAR, China.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, Macao SAR, China.

Abstract

This study evaluates a low-cost, single-channel fNIRS device in cognitive neuroscience, aiming to overcome the financial barriers of commercial systems by testing its efficacy in tasks of varying complexity. Twenty-six participants engaged in motor control (finger-tapping), working memory (n-back), and creativity (AUT) tasks while their prefrontal cortex activity was monitored using the device, with behavioral and cerebral blood flow changes recorded. Results showed the device's capability to detect significant blood flow variations across different tasks, thereby supporting its use in cognitive research. The study confirms the potential of single-channel fNIRS as a cost-effective tool for diverse cognitive assessments, from simple motor actions to complex creative thinking.

Keywords: cognitive tasks; fNIRS; low-cost fNIRS device; open-source hardware; prefrontal cortex activation.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was supported by the Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province (Grant number: 202303021222193).