Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Device for Brain Imaging

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Purchase of a near-infrared spectroscopy device (NIRS) in the area of affective neuroscience: The Clinical Psychophysiology Lab uses biological methods within experimental psychopathology. A comprehensively equipped array of devices for peripheral psychophysiology and electrocortical measures is available at our disposal. Now, the existing laboratory infrastructure shall be complemented with a near-infrared spectroscopy device (NIRS). Near-infrared spectroscopy is a modern brain imaging technology which makes use of the fact that certain frequency bands of light can penetrate biological tissue (of the scull) and are reflected in a very specific way by oxygenated hemoglobin. From the resulting signal functional activations of cortical areas can be imaged. Contrary to other imaging techniques, this device is more affordable and maintenance costs are lower, it is more convenient to use, non-invasive and it is more flexible in experimental paradigms. In particular, NIRS is silent, which is a major advantage over other imaging techniques (such as fMRI). The research group that applies for funding has gathered experience with this technology in previous collaborations at other places and presents a detailed plan on how the competencies of external collaborators will be tied-in in the future and how they will gain access to the device at the lab. The grant proposal documents the existence of the necessary infrastructure, describes the scientists’ competencies and explains the technical support which is available at the lab. A selection of six projects is described in the proposal that can build upon previously established paradigms in the lab and which will greatly benefit from the inclusion of NIRS. Moreover, additional projects of the collaborators are detailed which promise to stimulate substantial technological cross-fertilization for the applicants’ technological expertise. Taken together, these projects cover a wide range of themes on basic affective processing and on psychopathology. They demonstrate that the device will be used intensively and that its use promises to be a significant contribution to a better understanding of neuronal correlates of functional and dysfunctional emotion processing.