NIRx Medical Technologies - Optical Neuroimaging

03/06/2026

How does the brain adapt to hearing loss during early development? 👂

Svoboda et al. (2026) used fNIRS to study auditory cortex activity in children with cochlear implants, hearing aids, and typical hearing while they were exposed to speech, silent speech, and sign language.

They found that cochlear implant users showed weaker responses to auditory speech overall. However, children with prior experience of sign language demonstrated stronger auditory activation, suggesting that visual language may support or “scaffold” speech processing.

The study also revealed subtle cross-modal effects, including right-hemisphere responses to sign language in hearing children and inhibitory patterns during silent speech tasks.

These findings offer important insight into how early sensory experience shapes brain development and language outcomes.

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01/06/2026

New open dateset decoding individual finger movements with fNIRS! ✋🧠

Khan et al. (2026) present an open-access dataset from 25 participants performing single-finger tapping tasks, targeting one of the more demanding challenges in fNIRS-based brain-computer interfaces.

By enabling researchers to test advanced machine learning approaches on fine motor activity, this work supports progress towards more precise and robust fNIRS-based BCI systems.

📖 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1747655

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a neuroimaging modality with an acceptable spatial and temporal resolution that enables continuous, non-inva...

29/05/2026

How early does the brain begin organising for language? 🌱

In this longitudinal study, Mandl et al. combined foetal MRI with neonatal fNIRS to explore whether prenatal brain asymmetry predicts newborn speech processing. They found that variation in the foetal superior temporal sulcus was linked to differences in how neonates’ brains responded to speech.

The findings link prenatal brain structure to the earliest functional language networks and demonstrate that fNIRS can reveal speech-discrimination processes in the newborn brain.

https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcag048

27/05/2026

🧠 Join NIRx alongside Prof. Adam Eggebrecht (WashU) in Bordeaux on June 13 for a hands-on HD-DOT Workshop.

Topics include:
👶 Infant HD-DOT
🛠️ NIRSite montage design
📊 Sensitivity profiling
💻 NeuroDOT hands-on training

Featuring experts from WashU, University of Padova, University of Salerno & NIRx.

27/05/2026

A more objective marker of THC-related impairment may be closer than we think. 🌿🚗

Berchansky et al. used resting-state prefrontal fNIRS and machine learning to detect acute THC-related impairment in a double-blind, randomised crossover trial. Recorded with a 20-channel NIRSport2 system, the approach outperformed standardised field sobriety tests and produced far fewer false positives.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.56647

26/05/2026

Can neurophysiology help personalise treatment for binge-eating disorder? 🔄

Schreglmann et al. (2026) examined pretreatment EEG and real-time fNIRS (rtfNIRS) activity as predictors of neurofeedback (NF) outcomes in adults with Binge Eating Disorder. Distinct neural profiles predicted who benefitted most: elevated food-related high-beta power favoured EEG-NF, while lower prefrontal oxygenation during regulation predicted stronger response to rtfNIRS-NF.

Neurophysiological markers outperformed rapid symptom change in forecasting abstinence. The findings support a move towards mechanism-informed, individualised neurofeedback interventions.

Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.70023

25/05/2026

🚨 Last Chance: Early Bird for fNIRS Hyperscanning Workshop!

Don’t miss out on our hands-on, two-day workshop exploring the latest in fNIRS & hyperscanning research. Learn from experts Dr. Hendrik Santosa & Dr. Shannon Burns, Aug 3–4 @ USC LA.

💰 Early bird $150 ends May 31 – secure your spot before prices go up!
🔗 https://bit.ly/3ZwGWOh

22/05/2026

Adolescents living with HIV face ongoing cognitive challenges, even with effective medical treatment. 🌍

Zondo et al. (2025) examined whether sustained attention training could provide additional support. Using fNIRS during a Stroop task, they observed reduced activation in prefrontal regions among trained participants, consistent with greater neural efficiency.

Although behavioural improvements were modest, the neural findings suggest that targeted cognitive interventions may help promote adaptive brain changes. The study also demonstrates how non-invasive imaging tools like fNIRS can contribute to research in vulnerable paediatric populations.

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.169799.1

20/05/2026

How does the motor brain reorganise after intracerebral haemorrhage? 🧠🏥

Kumar et al. (2025) used fNIRS to examine resting connectivity and finger-tapping responses in patients during the acute phase of stroke. They found hemisphere-specific changes in motor networks, with evidence that premotor regions may play an early compensatory role.

The study supports the feasibility of bedside fNIRS for monitoring early motor reorganisation and informing targeted neurorehabilitation strategies.

Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.3390/s25206377

18/05/2026

🧠 Join NIRx & Artinis for a hands-on pre-conference workshop ahead of !

📅 June 3, 2026
📍 Heidelberg, Germany

Workshop:
Combining EEG and fNIRS: From Theory to Practice

Learn about combined EEG-fNIRS recordings, practical setups, joint data analysis, and take part in live demonstrations and hands-on sessions.

🎤 Featuring:
Dr. Katharina Lingelbach & Anna Vorreuther

⚠️ Limited to 50 participants.

📧 Register via email:
[email protected]
Subject: “NIRx Workshop”

🔗 https://pug2026.org/program-2/