TY - JOUR
T1 - The Use of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) for Monitoring Brain Function, Predicting Outcomes, and Evaluating Rehabilitative Interventional Responses in Poststroke Patients With Upper Limb Hemiplegia
T2 - A Systematic Review
AU - Gong, Yongan
AU - Lin, Ruixuan
AU - Mutlu, Murat Can
AU - Lorentz, Lukas
AU - Shaikh, Usman Jawed
AU - Graeve, Joscha D.
AU - Badkoubeh, Niloufar
AU - Zeng, Roy Rongyue
AU - Klein, Franziska
AU - Luhrs, Michael
AU - Mathiak, Klaus
AU - Zhang, Jack Jiaqi
AU - Mehler, David M.A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 IEEE.
PY - 2025/4/23
Y1 - 2025/4/23
N2 - Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been increasingly applied in poststroke research. The accumulated evidence in this area warrants a comprehensive review systematically investigating the utility of fNIRS in poststroke rehabilitation, specifically focusing on upper limb motor recovery. The target of this systematic review was the use of fNIRS for monitoring brain function, predicting outcomes, and evaluating rehabilitative interventional responses in poststroke patients with upper limb hemiplegia. A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, and IEEE Explore, to identify studies that applied fNIRS in stroke survivors. A total of 52 studies were included, with 23 cross-sectional studies, 8 longitudinal studies and 21 interventional studies. The majority of the included fNIRS studies displayed a bilateral activation pattern in patients after stroke during paretic upper limb movement. The change in hemispheric laterality, measured by oxygenated hemoglobin concentration changes (Δ[HbO]) levels in different corticomotor regions, has been found to be correlated with motor recovery following a stroke. Various rehabilitation interventions, such as exercise-based, stimulation-based, and neurofeedback techniques, improved recovery outcomes by increasing Δ[HbO] levels in the ipsilesional sensorimotor and secondary motor areas. These interventions also recruited different brain regions connected to the ipsilesional sensorimotor area, thereby strengthening their connectivity. In conclusion, outcomes derived from fNIRS demonstrate promise in monitoring brain function, predicting outcomes, and evaluating responses to interventions in patients after stroke. Future fNIRS research can be enhanced by adhering to best practice checklists, utilizing the latest experimental setup and analysis protocols, and recruiting large sample sizes.
AB - Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been increasingly applied in poststroke research. The accumulated evidence in this area warrants a comprehensive review systematically investigating the utility of fNIRS in poststroke rehabilitation, specifically focusing on upper limb motor recovery. The target of this systematic review was the use of fNIRS for monitoring brain function, predicting outcomes, and evaluating rehabilitative interventional responses in poststroke patients with upper limb hemiplegia. A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, and IEEE Explore, to identify studies that applied fNIRS in stroke survivors. A total of 52 studies were included, with 23 cross-sectional studies, 8 longitudinal studies and 21 interventional studies. The majority of the included fNIRS studies displayed a bilateral activation pattern in patients after stroke during paretic upper limb movement. The change in hemispheric laterality, measured by oxygenated hemoglobin concentration changes (Δ[HbO]) levels in different corticomotor regions, has been found to be correlated with motor recovery following a stroke. Various rehabilitation interventions, such as exercise-based, stimulation-based, and neurofeedback techniques, improved recovery outcomes by increasing Δ[HbO] levels in the ipsilesional sensorimotor and secondary motor areas. These interventions also recruited different brain regions connected to the ipsilesional sensorimotor area, thereby strengthening their connectivity. In conclusion, outcomes derived from fNIRS demonstrate promise in monitoring brain function, predicting outcomes, and evaluating responses to interventions in patients after stroke. Future fNIRS research can be enhanced by adhering to best practice checklists, utilizing the latest experimental setup and analysis protocols, and recruiting large sample sizes.
KW - functional near-infrared spectroscopy
KW - neuroplasticity
KW - rehabilitation
KW - Stroke
KW - upper limb
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003479812&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/JSTQE.2025.3563153
DO - 10.1109/JSTQE.2025.3563153
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:105003479812
SN - 1077-260X
VL - 31
JO - IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
JF - IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
IS - 4
M1 - 6800210
ER -