Abstract Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has emerged as a promising neuroimaging tool for assessing patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). While functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) have advanced the detection of covert brain function, their use is often constrained by accessibility, medical and physical contraindications, and practical limitations. fNIRS offers a portable, safe, and cost-effective alternative capable of measuring hemodynamic responses at the bedside. In this perspective, we discuss the clinical motivation for integrating fNIRS into DoC patient assessments, summarize recent advancements in the application of fNIRS for examining brain function, and outline the clinical and technical advantages. We highlight key future directions of fNIRS research, including large-scale validation, multimodal integration, and the development of fNIRS-based brain-computer interfaces. Finally, we address the ethical imperative to ensure equitable access to neurotechnologies capable of detecting covert brain function. With continued methodological refinement and standardization, fNIRS may significantly transform the diagnostic, prognostic, and communicative landscape of DoC care.
Kazazian et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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