Equipment

Thanks to ONRG members and the prestigious grants they have received, we have access to some of the best optical neuroimaging technology to help us answer a diverse range of neuroscience questions. Specifically, ONRG has access to three types of fNIRS systems each targeted to specific purposes.

The fNIRS Workhorse: NIRx NIRScout

The main fNIRS platform used by ONRG employs two systems, the gold standard for multimodal fNIRS. With up to 128 sources, the NIRScout enables broad scalp coverage of up to four research participants simultaneously (hyperscanning). Moreover, the NIRScout includes multiple short-separation channels for noise reduction and  is compatible with measurements of brain waves (electroencephalography, EEG), neurostimulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS, and transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS), behavioral measurements (e.g., eye and hand tracking), and physiological measurements (e.g., electromyography, EMG; heart rate). The NIRScout is housed with the 澳门六合彩开奖预测 Centre for Brain & Mind in the 澳门六合彩开奖预测 Interdisciplinary Research Building. Consistent with Brain & Mind’s equipment sharing model, the equipment is available for use by the broader neuroscience community in London, Ontario.

Each of the two NIRScout Extended Plus (NSXP) devices has:

  • Up to 64 (single system) and 128 (tandem system) LED sources (2 wavelengths)
  • Up to 32 (single system) and 64 (tandem system) Laser sources (4 wavelengths)
  • Up to 32 (single system) and 64 (tandem system) detectors
  • Specialized dual-tip optodes (Laser sources and detectors)
  • MRI/EEG compatible flat optodes
  • Multiple short-separation detector bundles
  • cap sizes that accommodate infant to adult populations. 

The Portable fNIRS Solution: NIRSport

ONRG has a number of portable NIRx NIRSport 1 and systems available to the members of our research group. Most of these devices are currently being used to conduct studies in patient populations at 澳门六合彩开奖预测's satellite hospitals.