title: Hand-grasping and finger tapping induced similar functional near-infrared spectroscopy cortical responses.
abstract: Despite promising advantages such as low cost and portability of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), it has yet to be widely implemented outside of basic research. Specifically, fNIRS has yet to be proven as a standalone tool within a clinical setting. The objective of this study was to assess hemodynamic concentration changes at the primary and premotor motor cortices as a result of simple whole-hand grasping and sequential finger-opposition (tapping) tasks. These tasks were repeated over 3 days in a randomized manner. Ten healthy young adults ([Formula: see text]) participated in the study. Quantitatively, no statistically significant differences were discovered between the levels of activation for the two motor tasks ([Formula: see text]). Overall, the signals were consistent across all 3 days. The findings show that both finger-opposition and hand grasping can be used interchangeably in fNIRS for assessment of motor function which would be useful in further advancing techniques for clinical implementation.
authors.affiliation: Wright State University , Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, Ohio 45435, United States.
authors.forename: Nasser H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kashou
authors.affiliation: Wright State University , Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, Ohio 45435, United States.
authors.forename: Brenna M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Giacherio
authors.affiliation: Wright State University, Department of Community Health, 3123 Research Boulevard, Kettering, Ohio 45420, United States; Wright State University, Department of Psychiatry, 3123 Research Boulevard, Kettering, Ohio 45420, United States.
authors.forename: Ramzi W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Nahhas
authors.affiliation: The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Innovative Research Program in Neonatal and Infant Feeding Disorders, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205, United States; The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, 370 W 9th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States.
authors.forename: Sudarshan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jadcherla
keywords: finger tapping; functional near-infrared spectroscopy; hand grasping; motor cortex; motor stimulation; near-infrared spectroscopy