Wang Jing, Zou Zhuo, Huang Haoyu, Wu Jinting, Wei Xianzhao, Yin Shuyue, Chen Yingjuan, Liu Yun
Department of Rehabilitation, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Front Neurol. 2025 Jun 17;16:1495138. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1495138. eCollection 2025.
This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in pediatric developmental disorders, with a particular emphasis on its potential for clinical translation. fNIRS is a portable and non-invasive brain imaging technique that detects the relative concentration changes of oxyhemoglobin (HbO), deoxyhemoglobin (HbR), and total hemoglobin in the cerebral cortex. These measurements effectively reflect cortical activation, making fNIRS a valuable tool in the field of pediatric neurodevelopmental research. The inherent resistance of fNIRS to interference, coupled with its adaptability to naturalistic settings, renders it particularly well-suited for pediatric populations. In this context, we undertook a meticulous and comprehensive literature search, employing predefined strategies and stringent inclusion/exclusion criteria (which are elaborated upon in the text). Our aim was to identify and review fNIRS studies across a wide range of developmental disorders. These disorders encompass cerebral palsy (CP), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conditions related to preterm infants, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and idiopathic language disorders. Our synthesis uncovers distinct hemodynamic patterns associated with specific developmental disorders. For example, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is marked by atypical activation within social brain networks, whereas attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by diminished activation in the prefrontal cortex. These findings not only shed light on the neurophysiological foundations of these disorders but also highlight the potential of fNIRS as a diagnostic biomarker. This review aims to inform the clinical application of fNIRS by providing a critical evaluation of its mechanistic insights and potential clinical pathways, thereby advancing its role in the diagnosis and management of developmental disorders.
本综述全面综合了功能近红外光谱技术（fNIRS）在儿科发育障碍中的应用，特别强调了其临床转化潜力。fNIRS是一种便携式无创脑成像技术，可检测大脑皮层中氧合血红蛋白（HbO）、脱氧血红蛋白（HbR）和总血红蛋白的相对浓度变化。这些测量有效地反映了皮层激活情况，使fNIRS成为儿科神经发育研究领域的宝贵工具。fNIRS固有的抗干扰能力及其对自然环境的适应性，使其特别适合儿科人群。在此背景下，我们采用预定义策略和严格的纳入/排除标准（文中详述）进行了细致全面的文献检索。我们的目的是识别和综述广泛发育障碍中的fNIRS研究。这些障碍包括脑瘫（CP）、自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）、注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）、与早产儿相关的病症、缺氧缺血性脑病（HIE）和特发性语言障碍。我们的综合分析揭示了与特定发育障碍相关的独特血流动力学模式。例如，自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的特征是社交脑网络内的非典型激活，而注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）的特征是前额叶皮层激活减少。这些发现不仅揭示了这些障碍的神经生理基础，还突出了fNIRS作为诊断生物标志物的潜力。本综述旨在通过对其机制见解和潜在临床途径进行批判性评估，为fNIRS的临床应用提供信息，从而提升其在发育障碍诊断和管理中的作用。
