FC-NIRS: A Functional Connectivity Analysis Tool for Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Data

Abstract EN

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a promising noninvasive imaging technique, has recently become an increasingly popular tool in resting-state brain functional connectivity (FC) studies.

However, the corresponding software packages for FC analysis are still lacking.

To facilitate fNIRS-based human functional connectome studies, we developed a MATLAB software package called “functional connectivity analysis tool for near-infrared spectroscopy data” (FC-NIRS).

This package includes the main functions of fNIRS data preprocessing, quality control, FC calculation, and network analysis.

Because this software has a friendly graphical user interface (GUI), FC-NIRS allows researchers to perform data analysis in an easy, flexible, and quick way.

Furthermore, FC-NIRS can accomplish batch processing during data processing and analysis, thereby greatly reducing the time cost of addressing a large number of datasets.

Extensive experimental results using real human brain imaging confirm the viability of the toolbox.

This novel toolbox is expected to substantially facilitate fNIRS-data-based human functional connectome studies.