Optical topography for noninvasive imaging of human brain functions - novel imaging modality for higher order function

Optical topography (OT) was proposed in 1995 as a novel imaging modality for higher order function of the human brain.[l] The modality emerge from the study on optical computed tomography. The concept of the OT is the measurement of brain-function at anywhere, on anyone, and in anytime. The concept is completely different from the conventional neuroimaging modalities; e.g. positron emission tomography (PET), functional magnet resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG). The idea of brain-function measurement by using near infrared-light spectroscopy (NIRS) was published in 1993.[2-51 Thereafter? we have developed the imaging method of brain function based on the NlRS.