The influence of frontal sinus in brain activation measurements by near-infrared spectroscopy analyzed by realistic head models.

Adequate modeling of light propagation in the head is important to predict the sensitivity of NIRS signal and the spatial sensitivity profile of source-detector pairs. The 3D realistic head models of which the geometry is based upon the anatomical images acquired by magnetic resonance imaging and x-ray computed tomography are constructed to investigate the influence of the frontal sinus on the NIRS signal and spatial sensitivity. Light propagation in the head is strongly affected by the presence of the frontal sinus. The light tends to propagate around the frontal sinus. The influence of the frontal sinus on the sensitivity of the NIRS signal to the brain activation is not consistent and depends on the depth of the frontal sinus, the optical properties of the superficial tissues and the relative position between the source-detector pair and the frontal sinus. The frontal sinus located in the shallow region of the skull tends to reduce the sensitivity of the NIRS signal while the deep frontal sinus can increase the sensitivity of the NIRS signal.