FNIRS研究の新展開

摘要

A method for monitoring brain function by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), called fNIRS (functional NIRS), has recently begun to be used in clinical research and practice. Its applications include early diagnosis of dementia, autism, depression, etc. and rehabilitation after a stroke. With our fNIRS instrument and technology, we have participated in two of the research programs supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: One is Strategic Research Program for Brain Science "Development of Brain Machine Interface" and the other is Project for Developing Innovation Systems, Program for Fostering Regional Innovation (Global Type). Our main task for the former is to develop the combination of NIRS and EEG for brain machine interface and that for the latter is to develop the combination of NIRS and MEG for early diagnosis of childhood-onset pervasive developmental disorder. The present paper describes the approach and progress of the two programs and the availability and possibilities of fNIRS.%著者らが参画している機能的近赤外分光法（functionalNear-Infrared Spectroscopy，fNIRS）を用いた以下の二つの最新プロジェクトについて紹介する。・文部科学省脳科学研究戦略推進プログラム「ブレイン・マシン・インターフェース（BMI）の開発」・文部科学省イノベーションシステム整備事業地城イノベーション戦略支援プログラム（グローバル型）富山・石川地域「ほくりく健康創造クラスター」広汎性発達障害の診断・治療・経過観察総合システムの開発前者はNIRSとEEG（脳波計，Electroencephalograph）との同時計測，後者はNIRSとMEG（脳磁計，Magnetoencephalograph）との同時計測である。開発状況と将来展望について述べる。