Abstract

We present maps of cortical activation measured with a new NIR multichannel topography system based in adult volunteers. Stimulation paradigms were finger tapping tasks as well as visual stimulations. It is shown that data analysis strategies developed for functional MRI studies like signal - stimulation correlation coefficients or other statistical test can be applied to optical topographic images. Differences in magnitude, time course and spatial extend of the oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin component are discussed. It is shown that these statistical maps may help to localise the center of activation. Different paradigms (checkerboard vs. low contrast moving rings) were used for the stimulation of different areas of the visual cortex which were resolved with the topographic maps.

© 2002 Optical Society of America