Near-infrared spectroscopy for functional studies of brain activity in human infants: promise, prospects, and challenges.

A recent workshop brought together a mix of researchers with expertise in optical physics, cerebral hemodynamics, cognitive neuroscience, and developmental psychology to review the potential utility of near-IR spectroscopy (NIRS) for studies of brain activity underlying cognitive processing in human infants. We summarize the key findings that emerged from this workshop and outline the pros and cons of NIRS for studying the brain correlates of perceptual, cognitive, and language development in human infants.