From Rest to Action: Decoding Brain Function with fNIRS

The aim of this PhD project is to explore the neuroimaging technique called functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). In recent years, this technology has been gaining more attention in research, with the hope that it may eventually be used outside of laboratory settings. The general introduction provides an overview of approaches to studying the brain, with a special focus on fNIRS. The thesis is then divided into three main chapters, each covering a different category of studies. The first chapter presents three studies focused on data acquisition during resting state. The second chapter examines brain activity during movement while the participant remains seated. The third chapter investigates brain activity during walking. Another chapter outlines the prospects for the real-time application of fNIRS. The thesis concludes with a chapter on final conclusions and future directions, followed by a section summarizing the doctoral activities undertaken throughout the PhD.