ABSTRACT
Optical imaging (OI) is a functional imaging method that measures changes in nervous tissue light reflectance or transmission. OI has been used to study brain functions in both normal and pathophysiological states. In addition to identifying brain function in a way that is not possible with single photon emission computed
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tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), OI has provided a greater understanding of the physiologic mechanisms underlying these imaging methods. This chapter will present overviews of different imaging techniques, principles of optical imaging (see Figure 5.1), various studies performed at different levels of brain analysis, and finally, human open optical imaging studies.
