#fnirs — Public Fediverse posts

DATE: July 18, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: How the brain shifts gears to appreciate the beauty of poetry

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-the-brain-shifts-gears-to-appreciate-the-beauty-of-poetry/

When people read a poem strictly for its beauty, their brains undergo a distinct three-step process that separates emotional resonance from basic reading comprehension. Researchers mapping brain activity found that readers temporarily quiet down the language-processing centers of their brains to fully immerse themselves in the imagery and emotion of the text. The findings were published in the journal NeuroImage.

In education and literature, scholars often divide reading into two distinct categories. The first is efferent reading, which happens when someone reads to extract facts, analyze writing techniques, or gather objective information. The second is aesthetic reading, which involves connecting with a text on a personal, emotional, or imaginative level.

When a student reads a biology textbook, they are likely practicing efferent reading. When that same student reads a moving novel and feels a sense of empathy for the characters, they have transitioned into an aesthetic reading stance. Educational theories suggest that genuine aesthetic reading requires the reader to go beyond the literal meaning of the words.

The aesthetic process starts with understanding the external language of the text. Eventually, the reader must move inward, using their own memories and emotional responses to appreciate the work. The exact biological mechanisms behind this transition from literal understanding to deep emotional resonance have remained a mystery.

Researchers Huishu Liu from South China Normal University and Xiaomeng Xu from Tsinghua University led a small study to observe this transition physically inside the brain. Along with colleagues Wanyan Sun, Dan Zhang, and Yu Zhang, they wanted to track the exact moments when a reader shifts from merely decoding text to experiencing internal resonance.

To do this, the research team used a technology called functional near-infrared spectroscopy, commonly referred to as fNIRS. This device looks like a swimming cap studded with small sensors and wires, and participants securely wear it on their heads during the experiment. The sensors beam harmless near-infrared light through the skull to measure changes in blood flow on the surface of the brain. The technology tracks light absorption to calculate chemical concentrations in real time.

When a specific part of the brain is working hard, it requires more oxygen. The fNIRS cap measures oxygenated hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood, to show which brain regions are currently active. While this tool does not scan deep into the brain, it allows participants to sit comfortably at a computer and undergo natural reading tasks.

The research team recruited 35 university students in Beijing to participate in the experiment. Because this sample size is less than 50, it is considered a small study. The participants represented a balanced mix of academic fields, including engineering, the sciences, and the humanities.

For the reading material, the team selected twenty classical Chinese poems. Specifically, they chose five-character regulated verses from the Tang Dynasty. These poems are well known for evoking strong imagery, and each contains exactly forty written characters. Native readers can typically skim a poem of this length in five to eight seconds.

During the experiment, the participants sat in front of a computer screen while wearing the fNIRS equipment. For some poems, the researchers instructed the students to engage in efferent reading. They were told to focus on the structure of the poem, the historical facts, and the literary techniques.

For other poems, the instructions prompted the students to read aesthetically. The prompt asked them to allow themselves to feel the emotion of the piece and imagine the scenery described. Each poem remained on the screen for fifty seconds. After every reading round, the students answered questions about their mental stance, how familiar they were with the poem, and how much they liked it.

The brain scans revealed a unique timeline of activity during the aesthetic reading tasks. The researchers observed a distinct three-phase pattern that did not occur when participants were reading just for facts. To calculate these brain changes, the software compared the blood flow during the reading task to a baseline resting state. The early seconds of the process were nearly identical across both reading conditions.

In the first ten seconds of reading, blood flow increased in several sections of the left temporal lobe, an area situated near the ear. These brain sections, which include the left superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyri, manage word processing and basic language comprehension. The left primary somatosensory cortex, which helps process sensory information, also showed heightened oxygen levels. At this early stage, the participants were simply taking in the words and figuring out what the poem literally said.

The second phase occurred from the ten-second mark up to the thirty-second mark. During this window, readers in the aesthetic group exhibited a surprising drop in oxygenated blood flow within those same temporal lobe regions. The researchers labeled this phenomenon semantic inhibition.

Essentially, the brain appeared to mute its own language-processing centers. The readers momentarily stopped analyzing the literal meaning of the vocabulary. In contrast, the students who were reading for cold facts maintained high levels of activity in these language centers throughout the entire window.

The third phase unfolded during the final twenty seconds of the reading task. The temporal lobe regions became highly active again in the aesthetic readers. At the exact same time, a new area near the top-front of the head flooded with oxygen-rich blood.

This frontal area is known as the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Neuroscientists associate this specific brain region with pulling up personal memories, generating mental images, and feeling empathy. The late surge of activity suggests that the participants were actively connecting the meaning of the poem to their own internal feelings and life experiences.

The researchers also noted a relationship between the magnitude of these blood flow changes and the subjective experiences of the readers. Students who experienced the largest dip in language processing followed by the sharpest rebound were the ones who reported the highest levels of aesthetic appreciation.

The study authors pointed out that this progression mirrors ancient philosophical ideas about art and truth. In Taoism, classical thinkers often described language as a temporary ladder or pathway. Once a person grasps the deeper truth of a concept, they are supposed to discard the words used to convey it.

A similar dynamic seems to unfold on a biological level during poetry reading. The brain relies on language centers to decode the initial text. Once the basic meaning is firmly established, the brain suppresses that literal analysis, making room for imagination and emotional resonance to take over.

The findings also reflect ideas proposed by philosopher Friedrich Schiller, who argued that humanity is caught between cold rationality and boundless emotion. Schiller believed that true aesthetic appreciation acts as a bridge, bringing reason and sensation into harmony. This three-stage brain response physically demonstrates that harmony, balancing the rational processing of vocabulary with the emotional experience of the arts.

While these brain activity maps are highly detailed, the authors noted a few caveats. The technology used in the experiment measures blood flow only on the surface of the cortex, meaning deeper brain structures involved in emotion and memory were not visible as part of this process.

Additionally, an apparent drop in oxygenated blood flow does not unconditionally prove that the brain is actively suppressing a function. The participants might have simply shifted their attention away from the text for a few seconds. The differences in activation might not be statistically significant enough across larger populations to establish an absolute biological rule.

Future research with wider demographic groups and higher-resolution brain scanners might clarify the exact nature of this middle phase. Scientists could also apply these scanning methods to different forms of art, such as listening to music or examining a painting.

Educational practices often prioritize syntax, vocabulary testing, and strict textual analysis over emotional engagement. The authors hope these early insights will encourage educators to give students the mental space to step away from literal definitions. By momentarily letting go of the words, readers might discover the deeper beauty of literature.

The study, “Neural Dynamics of Aesthetic Appreciation: fNIRS Evidence from Poetry Reading,” was authored by Huishu Liu, Xiaomeng Xu, Wanyan Sun, Dan Zhang, and Yu Zhang.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-the-brain-shifts-gears-to-appreciate-the-beauty-of-poetry/

-------------------------------------------------

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AestheticReading #PoetryScience #NeuroImage #fNIRS #BrainOfPoetry #LiteraryAppreciation #SemanticInhibition #LeftTemporalLobe #DorsolateralPFC #ArtAndTruth

DATE: July 18, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: How the brain shifts gears to appreciate the beauty of poetry

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-the-brain-shifts-gears-to-appreciate-the-beauty-of-poetry/

When people read a poem strictly for its beauty, their brains undergo a distinct three-step process that separates emotional resonance from basic reading comprehension. Researchers mapping brain activity found that readers temporarily quiet down the language-processing centers of their brains to fully immerse themselves in the imagery and emotion of the text. The findings were published in the journal NeuroImage.

In education and literature, scholars often divide reading into two distinct categories. The first is efferent reading, which happens when someone reads to extract facts, analyze writing techniques, or gather objective information. The second is aesthetic reading, which involves connecting with a text on a personal, emotional, or imaginative level.

When a student reads a biology textbook, they are likely practicing efferent reading. When that same student reads a moving novel and feels a sense of empathy for the characters, they have transitioned into an aesthetic reading stance. Educational theories suggest that genuine aesthetic reading requires the reader to go beyond the literal meaning of the words.

The aesthetic process starts with understanding the external language of the text. Eventually, the reader must move inward, using their own memories and emotional responses to appreciate the work. The exact biological mechanisms behind this transition from literal understanding to deep emotional resonance have remained a mystery.

Researchers Huishu Liu from South China Normal University and Xiaomeng Xu from Tsinghua University led a small study to observe this transition physically inside the brain. Along with colleagues Wanyan Sun, Dan Zhang, and Yu Zhang, they wanted to track the exact moments when a reader shifts from merely decoding text to experiencing internal resonance.

To do this, the research team used a technology called functional near-infrared spectroscopy, commonly referred to as fNIRS. This device looks like a swimming cap studded with small sensors and wires, and participants securely wear it on their heads during the experiment. The sensors beam harmless near-infrared light through the skull to measure changes in blood flow on the surface of the brain. The technology tracks light absorption to calculate chemical concentrations in real time.

When a specific part of the brain is working hard, it requires more oxygen. The fNIRS cap measures oxygenated hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood, to show which brain regions are currently active. While this tool does not scan deep into the brain, it allows participants to sit comfortably at a computer and undergo natural reading tasks.

The research team recruited 35 university students in Beijing to participate in the experiment. Because this sample size is less than 50, it is considered a small study. The participants represented a balanced mix of academic fields, including engineering, the sciences, and the humanities.

For the reading material, the team selected twenty classical Chinese poems. Specifically, they chose five-character regulated verses from the Tang Dynasty. These poems are well known for evoking strong imagery, and each contains exactly forty written characters. Native readers can typically skim a poem of this length in five to eight seconds.

During the experiment, the participants sat in front of a computer screen while wearing the fNIRS equipment. For some poems, the researchers instructed the students to engage in efferent reading. They were told to focus on the structure of the poem, the historical facts, and the literary techniques.

For other poems, the instructions prompted the students to read aesthetically. The prompt asked them to allow themselves to feel the emotion of the piece and imagine the scenery described. Each poem remained on the screen for fifty seconds. After every reading round, the students answered questions about their mental stance, how familiar they were with the poem, and how much they liked it.

The brain scans revealed a unique timeline of activity during the aesthetic reading tasks. The researchers observed a distinct three-phase pattern that did not occur when participants were reading just for facts. To calculate these brain changes, the software compared the blood flow during the reading task to a baseline resting state. The early seconds of the process were nearly identical across both reading conditions.

In the first ten seconds of reading, blood flow increased in several sections of the left temporal lobe, an area situated near the ear. These brain sections, which include the left superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyri, manage word processing and basic language comprehension. The left primary somatosensory cortex, which helps process sensory information, also showed heightened oxygen levels. At this early stage, the participants were simply taking in the words and figuring out what the poem literally said.

The second phase occurred from the ten-second mark up to the thirty-second mark. During this window, readers in the aesthetic group exhibited a surprising drop in oxygenated blood flow within those same temporal lobe regions. The researchers labeled this phenomenon semantic inhibition.

Essentially, the brain appeared to mute its own language-processing centers. The readers momentarily stopped analyzing the literal meaning of the vocabulary. In contrast, the students who were reading for cold facts maintained high levels of activity in these language centers throughout the entire window.

The third phase unfolded during the final twenty seconds of the reading task. The temporal lobe regions became highly active again in the aesthetic readers. At the exact same time, a new area near the top-front of the head flooded with oxygen-rich blood.

This frontal area is known as the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Neuroscientists associate this specific brain region with pulling up personal memories, generating mental images, and feeling empathy. The late surge of activity suggests that the participants were actively connecting the meaning of the poem to their own internal feelings and life experiences.

The researchers also noted a relationship between the magnitude of these blood flow changes and the subjective experiences of the readers. Students who experienced the largest dip in language processing followed by the sharpest rebound were the ones who reported the highest levels of aesthetic appreciation.

The study authors pointed out that this progression mirrors ancient philosophical ideas about art and truth. In Taoism, classical thinkers often described language as a temporary ladder or pathway. Once a person grasps the deeper truth of a concept, they are supposed to discard the words used to convey it.

A similar dynamic seems to unfold on a biological level during poetry reading. The brain relies on language centers to decode the initial text. Once the basic meaning is firmly established, the brain suppresses that literal analysis, making room for imagination and emotional resonance to take over.

The findings also reflect ideas proposed by philosopher Friedrich Schiller, who argued that humanity is caught between cold rationality and boundless emotion. Schiller believed that true aesthetic appreciation acts as a bridge, bringing reason and sensation into harmony. This three-stage brain response physically demonstrates that harmony, balancing the rational processing of vocabulary with the emotional experience of the arts.

While these brain activity maps are highly detailed, the authors noted a few caveats. The technology used in the experiment measures blood flow only on the surface of the cortex, meaning deeper brain structures involved in emotion and memory were not visible as part of this process.

Additionally, an apparent drop in oxygenated blood flow does not unconditionally prove that the brain is actively suppressing a function. The participants might have simply shifted their attention away from the text for a few seconds. The differences in activation might not be statistically significant enough across larger populations to establish an absolute biological rule.

Future research with wider demographic groups and higher-resolution brain scanners might clarify the exact nature of this middle phase. Scientists could also apply these scanning methods to different forms of art, such as listening to music or examining a painting.

Educational practices often prioritize syntax, vocabulary testing, and strict textual analysis over emotional engagement. The authors hope these early insights will encourage educators to give students the mental space to step away from literal definitions. By momentarily letting go of the words, readers might discover the deeper beauty of literature.

The study, “Neural Dynamics of Aesthetic Appreciation: fNIRS Evidence from Poetry Reading,” was authored by Huishu Liu, Xiaomeng Xu, Wanyan Sun, Dan Zhang, and Yu Zhang.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-the-brain-shifts-gears-to-appreciate-the-beauty-of-poetry/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AestheticReading #PoetryScience #NeuroImage #fNIRS #BrainOfPoetry #LiteraryAppreciation #SemanticInhibition #LeftTemporalLobe #DorsolateralPFC #ArtAndTruth

DATE: July 18, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: How the brain shifts gears to appreciate the beauty of poetry

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-the-brain-shifts-gears-to-appreciate-the-beauty-of-poetry/

When people read a poem strictly for its beauty, their brains undergo a distinct three-step process that separates emotional resonance from basic reading comprehension. Researchers mapping brain activity found that readers temporarily quiet down the language-processing centers of their brains to fully immerse themselves in the imagery and emotion of the text. The findings were published in the journal NeuroImage.

In education and literature, scholars often divide reading into two distinct categories. The first is efferent reading, which happens when someone reads to extract facts, analyze writing techniques, or gather objective information. The second is aesthetic reading, which involves connecting with a text on a personal, emotional, or imaginative level.

When a student reads a biology textbook, they are likely practicing efferent reading. When that same student reads a moving novel and feels a sense of empathy for the characters, they have transitioned into an aesthetic reading stance. Educational theories suggest that genuine aesthetic reading requires the reader to go beyond the literal meaning of the words.

The aesthetic process starts with understanding the external language of the text. Eventually, the reader must move inward, using their own memories and emotional responses to appreciate the work. The exact biological mechanisms behind this transition from literal understanding to deep emotional resonance have remained a mystery.

Researchers Huishu Liu from South China Normal University and Xiaomeng Xu from Tsinghua University led a small study to observe this transition physically inside the brain. Along with colleagues Wanyan Sun, Dan Zhang, and Yu Zhang, they wanted to track the exact moments when a reader shifts from merely decoding text to experiencing internal resonance.

To do this, the research team used a technology called functional near-infrared spectroscopy, commonly referred to as fNIRS. This device looks like a swimming cap studded with small sensors and wires, and participants securely wear it on their heads during the experiment. The sensors beam harmless near-infrared light through the skull to measure changes in blood flow on the surface of the brain. The technology tracks light absorption to calculate chemical concentrations in real time.

When a specific part of the brain is working hard, it requires more oxygen. The fNIRS cap measures oxygenated hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood, to show which brain regions are currently active. While this tool does not scan deep into the brain, it allows participants to sit comfortably at a computer and undergo natural reading tasks.

The research team recruited 35 university students in Beijing to participate in the experiment. Because this sample size is less than 50, it is considered a small study. The participants represented a balanced mix of academic fields, including engineering, the sciences, and the humanities.

For the reading material, the team selected twenty classical Chinese poems. Specifically, they chose five-character regulated verses from the Tang Dynasty. These poems are well known for evoking strong imagery, and each contains exactly forty written characters. Native readers can typically skim a poem of this length in five to eight seconds.

During the experiment, the participants sat in front of a computer screen while wearing the fNIRS equipment. For some poems, the researchers instructed the students to engage in efferent reading. They were told to focus on the structure of the poem, the historical facts, and the literary techniques.

For other poems, the instructions prompted the students to read aesthetically. The prompt asked them to allow themselves to feel the emotion of the piece and imagine the scenery described. Each poem remained on the screen for fifty seconds. After every reading round, the students answered questions about their mental stance, how familiar they were with the poem, and how much they liked it.

The brain scans revealed a unique timeline of activity during the aesthetic reading tasks. The researchers observed a distinct three-phase pattern that did not occur when participants were reading just for facts. To calculate these brain changes, the software compared the blood flow during the reading task to a baseline resting state. The early seconds of the process were nearly identical across both reading conditions.

In the first ten seconds of reading, blood flow increased in several sections of the left temporal lobe, an area situated near the ear. These brain sections, which include the left superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyri, manage word processing and basic language comprehension. The left primary somatosensory cortex, which helps process sensory information, also showed heightened oxygen levels. At this early stage, the participants were simply taking in the words and figuring out what the poem literally said.

The second phase occurred from the ten-second mark up to the thirty-second mark. During this window, readers in the aesthetic group exhibited a surprising drop in oxygenated blood flow within those same temporal lobe regions. The researchers labeled this phenomenon semantic inhibition.

Essentially, the brain appeared to mute its own language-processing centers. The readers momentarily stopped analyzing the literal meaning of the vocabulary. In contrast, the students who were reading for cold facts maintained high levels of activity in these language centers throughout the entire window.

The third phase unfolded during the final twenty seconds of the reading task. The temporal lobe regions became highly active again in the aesthetic readers. At the exact same time, a new area near the top-front of the head flooded with oxygen-rich blood.

This frontal area is known as the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Neuroscientists associate this specific brain region with pulling up personal memories, generating mental images, and feeling empathy. The late surge of activity suggests that the participants were actively connecting the meaning of the poem to their own internal feelings and life experiences.

The researchers also noted a relationship between the magnitude of these blood flow changes and the subjective experiences of the readers. Students who experienced the largest dip in language processing followed by the sharpest rebound were the ones who reported the highest levels of aesthetic appreciation.

The study authors pointed out that this progression mirrors ancient philosophical ideas about art and truth. In Taoism, classical thinkers often described language as a temporary ladder or pathway. Once a person grasps the deeper truth of a concept, they are supposed to discard the words used to convey it.

A similar dynamic seems to unfold on a biological level during poetry reading. The brain relies on language centers to decode the initial text. Once the basic meaning is firmly established, the brain suppresses that literal analysis, making room for imagination and emotional resonance to take over.

The findings also reflect ideas proposed by philosopher Friedrich Schiller, who argued that humanity is caught between cold rationality and boundless emotion. Schiller believed that true aesthetic appreciation acts as a bridge, bringing reason and sensation into harmony. This three-stage brain response physically demonstrates that harmony, balancing the rational processing of vocabulary with the emotional experience of the arts.

While these brain activity maps are highly detailed, the authors noted a few caveats. The technology used in the experiment measures blood flow only on the surface of the cortex, meaning deeper brain structures involved in emotion and memory were not visible as part of this process.

Additionally, an apparent drop in oxygenated blood flow does not unconditionally prove that the brain is actively suppressing a function. The participants might have simply shifted their attention away from the text for a few seconds. The differences in activation might not be statistically significant enough across larger populations to establish an absolute biological rule.

Future research with wider demographic groups and higher-resolution brain scanners might clarify the exact nature of this middle phase. Scientists could also apply these scanning methods to different forms of art, such as listening to music or examining a painting.

Educational practices often prioritize syntax, vocabulary testing, and strict textual analysis over emotional engagement. The authors hope these early insights will encourage educators to give students the mental space to step away from literal definitions. By momentarily letting go of the words, readers might discover the deeper beauty of literature.

The study, “Neural Dynamics of Aesthetic Appreciation: fNIRS Evidence from Poetry Reading,” was authored by Huishu Liu, Xiaomeng Xu, Wanyan Sun, Dan Zhang, and Yu Zhang.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-the-brain-shifts-gears-to-appreciate-the-beauty-of-poetry/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AestheticReading #PoetryScience #NeuroImage #fNIRS #BrainOfPoetry #LiteraryAppreciation #SemanticInhibition #LeftTemporalLobe #DorsolateralPFC #ArtAndTruth

DATE: June 28, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Brain scans reveal how uneven intelligence scores relate to attention deficits in children

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-how-uneven-intelligence-scores-relate-to-attention-deficits-i/

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who possess a distinct split between their verbal and nonverbal intelligence face greater challenges with self-control and focus. These mental gaps line up with lower blood flow in the front of the brain during tasks that require impulse management. The results were published in the journal NeuroImage.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in school-age children. Its primary traits include an inability to maintain focus, physical restlessness, or impulsive behavior. These symptoms often stem from weaknesses in executive function. Executive function acts as the brain’s management system, organizing thoughts, regulating emotions, and guiding planned behavior.

Psychologists frequently evaluate cognitive abilities using comprehensive assessments that divide intelligence into two main categories. Verbal intelligence involves language-based problem-solving, vocabulary, and accumulated factual knowledge. Performance intelligence deals with visual processing, spatial reasoning, and hands-on tasks like arranging blocks or recognizing patterns.

In typical development, a child’s scores in these verbal and performance categories are usually somewhat balanced. However, some children exhibit a wide split between the two scores, a condition described as an intelligence quotient discrepancy. Previous research has indicated that large splits between verbal and performance skills are unusually common among children who have attention issues.

Some theorists propose that verbal scores measure academic achievement and acquired information, while performance scores measure the raw ability to process new variables simultaneously. A gap between the two might reflect an underlying disruption in how different regions of the brain communicate. Xin Chen, a researcher at Fujian Children’s Hospital in China, and colleagues designed an experiment to see how this intelligence gap impacts day-to-day behavior.

The research team recruited 114 children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All participants were between the ages of six and twelve and had general intelligence test scores of 70 or higher. None of the children were currently taking medication for their attention symptoms.

Examiners administered a standard cognitive test to measure each child’s verbal and performance abilities. Based on the results, the investigators divided the children into two roughly matched groups. One group possessed a large gap between their verbal and performance scores. The other group had relatively balanced profiles without an intelligence gap.

To measure real-world skills, the research team asked the children’s parents to complete a standardized behavioral survey. The questionnaire asked caregivers to rate how often their child struggled with daily tasks. It covered specific categories like emotional control, physical organization, working memory, and task initiation.

The children also completed a computerized test to gauge their ability to process sights and sounds. The software required participants to click a mouse when they saw or heard the number one. They were instructed to hold back completely when they encountered the number two. This allowed the researchers to measure both raw reaction times and the ability to suppress an incorrect response.

To understand the biological mechanisms behind these behaviors, the scientists selected a random subset of 46 children. This smaller group underwent brain imaging while performing a second computerized assessment. The researchers utilized a noninvasive imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy uses a specialized cap fitted with small light sensors. These sensors project harmless beams of near-infrared light through the scalp and skull. By measuring how the light scatters and bounces back, the system can detect changes in the concentration of oxygenated blood. Active brain tissue requires more oxygen, so tracking blood flow allows researchers to map out which brain areas are working the hardest.

While wearing the sensor cap, the subset of children played a game meant to trigger their impulse control. The screen displayed images of different animals in quick succession. The children were told to press a button as fast as possible when they saw a cat or a dog.

At random intervals, the game switched its rules. When an image of a chicken appeared, the children had to press the button. When an image of a duck appeared, they had to entirely stop themselves from reacting.

The overall results revealed a distinct pattern among the children who possessed an intelligence gap. On the parent surveys, this group scored worse on overall executive function compared to the children with balanced intelligence. Caregivers reported that children with an intelligence gap struggled the most with starting new tasks and shifting smoothly between different activities.

Similar outcomes appeared during the computerized visual and auditory tests. The group with an intelligence gap recorded slower overall reaction times. They had particular difficulty with the visual portions of the test, committing more errors when trying to hold back a mouse click.

When researchers looked back at the original intelligence tests, they noticed the biggest difference between the two groups came down to arithmetic scores. Arithmetic requires a child to hold numbers in their working memory and manipulate them mentally. The scientists suggest that this specific weakness heavily influences how severe a child’s attention symptoms might appear.

The brain imaging data provided a biological reflection of these behavioral struggles. During the animal game, the children with an intelligence gap showed reduced blood flow to the right medial prefrontal cortex. This brain area is heavily involved in regulating emotions, maintaining motivation, and making decisions.

The researchers found a direct relationship between the severity of a child’s attention deficits and the lack of blood flow in that specific frontal region. Children whose parents reported the highest levels of daily distractibility showed the lowest levels of oxygenated blood in the medial prefrontal cortex. Conversely, the results were not statistically significant when the researchers looked at the left prefrontal cortex or the temporal lobes.

Through statistical modeling, the team also identified a behavioral trait known as monitoring as a primary indicator for hyperactivity and scattered attention. Monitoring is the mental ability to supervise one’s own work to ensure a goal is met. Children who lack this supervisory skill are highly prone to careless errors in school and social settings.

The study authors listed several caveats to their findings. The project relied on older, revised editions of standard intelligence and behavioral assessments. Relying on these older formats might make it difficult to compare the current data against research conducted with newly updated testing standards.

Additionally, the participant pool was limited exclusively to Chinese children. Behaviors and test outcomes can be influenced by cultural or educational environments, meaning the results might not automatically apply to other populations. The study design also grouped all types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder together, rather than separating children who are mostly hyperactive from those who just struggle to focus.

The investigators also did not include a control group of typically developing children. Having a baseline comparison would help isolate whether the blood flow patterns are unique to the intelligence gap or a broader feature of attention deficits. Future projects will need to incorporate larger sample sizes and different types of cognitive tasks.

Brain imaging technology also has inherent limitations. The light sensors can pick up noise from superficial blood flow in the scalp, which can sometimes blur the deeper brain signals. The authors suggest that subsequent experiments should use advanced equipment channels to filter out surface-level interference.

The study, “Effect of Intelligence Quotient Discrepancy on Attention and Executive Function in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An fNIRS Study,” was authored by Xin Chen, Liang-liang Chen, Jing-rong Wang, Ying-ying Cai, and Xiao-dan Yu.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-how-uneven-intelligence-scores-relate-to-attention-deficits-i/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #IQDiscrepancy #ADHDinChildren #AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder #ExecutiveFunction #VerbalVsPerformanceIQ #fNIRS #BrainImaging #PrefrontalCortex #ChildCognition #NeuroImageResearch

DATE: June 28, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Brain scans reveal how uneven intelligence scores relate to attention deficits in children

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-how-uneven-intelligence-scores-relate-to-attention-deficits-i/

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who possess a distinct split between their verbal and nonverbal intelligence face greater challenges with self-control and focus. These mental gaps line up with lower blood flow in the front of the brain during tasks that require impulse management. The results were published in the journal NeuroImage.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in school-age children. Its primary traits include an inability to maintain focus, physical restlessness, or impulsive behavior. These symptoms often stem from weaknesses in executive function. Executive function acts as the brain’s management system, organizing thoughts, regulating emotions, and guiding planned behavior.

Psychologists frequently evaluate cognitive abilities using comprehensive assessments that divide intelligence into two main categories. Verbal intelligence involves language-based problem-solving, vocabulary, and accumulated factual knowledge. Performance intelligence deals with visual processing, spatial reasoning, and hands-on tasks like arranging blocks or recognizing patterns.

In typical development, a child’s scores in these verbal and performance categories are usually somewhat balanced. However, some children exhibit a wide split between the two scores, a condition described as an intelligence quotient discrepancy. Previous research has indicated that large splits between verbal and performance skills are unusually common among children who have attention issues.

Some theorists propose that verbal scores measure academic achievement and acquired information, while performance scores measure the raw ability to process new variables simultaneously. A gap between the two might reflect an underlying disruption in how different regions of the brain communicate. Xin Chen, a researcher at Fujian Children’s Hospital in China, and colleagues designed an experiment to see how this intelligence gap impacts day-to-day behavior.

The research team recruited 114 children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All participants were between the ages of six and twelve and had general intelligence test scores of 70 or higher. None of the children were currently taking medication for their attention symptoms.

Examiners administered a standard cognitive test to measure each child’s verbal and performance abilities. Based on the results, the investigators divided the children into two roughly matched groups. One group possessed a large gap between their verbal and performance scores. The other group had relatively balanced profiles without an intelligence gap.

To measure real-world skills, the research team asked the children’s parents to complete a standardized behavioral survey. The questionnaire asked caregivers to rate how often their child struggled with daily tasks. It covered specific categories like emotional control, physical organization, working memory, and task initiation.

The children also completed a computerized test to gauge their ability to process sights and sounds. The software required participants to click a mouse when they saw or heard the number one. They were instructed to hold back completely when they encountered the number two. This allowed the researchers to measure both raw reaction times and the ability to suppress an incorrect response.

To understand the biological mechanisms behind these behaviors, the scientists selected a random subset of 46 children. This smaller group underwent brain imaging while performing a second computerized assessment. The researchers utilized a noninvasive imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy uses a specialized cap fitted with small light sensors. These sensors project harmless beams of near-infrared light through the scalp and skull. By measuring how the light scatters and bounces back, the system can detect changes in the concentration of oxygenated blood. Active brain tissue requires more oxygen, so tracking blood flow allows researchers to map out which brain areas are working the hardest.

While wearing the sensor cap, the subset of children played a game meant to trigger their impulse control. The screen displayed images of different animals in quick succession. The children were told to press a button as fast as possible when they saw a cat or a dog.

At random intervals, the game switched its rules. When an image of a chicken appeared, the children had to press the button. When an image of a duck appeared, they had to entirely stop themselves from reacting.

The overall results revealed a distinct pattern among the children who possessed an intelligence gap. On the parent surveys, this group scored worse on overall executive function compared to the children with balanced intelligence. Caregivers reported that children with an intelligence gap struggled the most with starting new tasks and shifting smoothly between different activities.

Similar outcomes appeared during the computerized visual and auditory tests. The group with an intelligence gap recorded slower overall reaction times. They had particular difficulty with the visual portions of the test, committing more errors when trying to hold back a mouse click.

When researchers looked back at the original intelligence tests, they noticed the biggest difference between the two groups came down to arithmetic scores. Arithmetic requires a child to hold numbers in their working memory and manipulate them mentally. The scientists suggest that this specific weakness heavily influences how severe a child’s attention symptoms might appear.

The brain imaging data provided a biological reflection of these behavioral struggles. During the animal game, the children with an intelligence gap showed reduced blood flow to the right medial prefrontal cortex. This brain area is heavily involved in regulating emotions, maintaining motivation, and making decisions.

The researchers found a direct relationship between the severity of a child’s attention deficits and the lack of blood flow in that specific frontal region. Children whose parents reported the highest levels of daily distractibility showed the lowest levels of oxygenated blood in the medial prefrontal cortex. Conversely, the results were not statistically significant when the researchers looked at the left prefrontal cortex or the temporal lobes.

Through statistical modeling, the team also identified a behavioral trait known as monitoring as a primary indicator for hyperactivity and scattered attention. Monitoring is the mental ability to supervise one’s own work to ensure a goal is met. Children who lack this supervisory skill are highly prone to careless errors in school and social settings.

The study authors listed several caveats to their findings. The project relied on older, revised editions of standard intelligence and behavioral assessments. Relying on these older formats might make it difficult to compare the current data against research conducted with newly updated testing standards.

Additionally, the participant pool was limited exclusively to Chinese children. Behaviors and test outcomes can be influenced by cultural or educational environments, meaning the results might not automatically apply to other populations. The study design also grouped all types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder together, rather than separating children who are mostly hyperactive from those who just struggle to focus.

The investigators also did not include a control group of typically developing children. Having a baseline comparison would help isolate whether the blood flow patterns are unique to the intelligence gap or a broader feature of attention deficits. Future projects will need to incorporate larger sample sizes and different types of cognitive tasks.

Brain imaging technology also has inherent limitations. The light sensors can pick up noise from superficial blood flow in the scalp, which can sometimes blur the deeper brain signals. The authors suggest that subsequent experiments should use advanced equipment channels to filter out surface-level interference.

The study, “Effect of Intelligence Quotient Discrepancy on Attention and Executive Function in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An fNIRS Study,” was authored by Xin Chen, Liang-liang Chen, Jing-rong Wang, Ying-ying Cai, and Xiao-dan Yu.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-how-uneven-intelligence-scores-relate-to-attention-deficits-i/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #IQDiscrepancy #ADHDinChildren #AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder #ExecutiveFunction #VerbalVsPerformanceIQ #fNIRS #BrainImaging #PrefrontalCortex #ChildCognition #NeuroImageResearch

DATE: June 28, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Brain scans reveal how uneven intelligence scores relate to attention deficits in children

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-how-uneven-intelligence-scores-relate-to-attention-deficits-i/

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who possess a distinct split between their verbal and nonverbal intelligence face greater challenges with self-control and focus. These mental gaps line up with lower blood flow in the front of the brain during tasks that require impulse management. The results were published in the journal NeuroImage.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in school-age children. Its primary traits include an inability to maintain focus, physical restlessness, or impulsive behavior. These symptoms often stem from weaknesses in executive function. Executive function acts as the brain’s management system, organizing thoughts, regulating emotions, and guiding planned behavior.

Psychologists frequently evaluate cognitive abilities using comprehensive assessments that divide intelligence into two main categories. Verbal intelligence involves language-based problem-solving, vocabulary, and accumulated factual knowledge. Performance intelligence deals with visual processing, spatial reasoning, and hands-on tasks like arranging blocks or recognizing patterns.

In typical development, a child’s scores in these verbal and performance categories are usually somewhat balanced. However, some children exhibit a wide split between the two scores, a condition described as an intelligence quotient discrepancy. Previous research has indicated that large splits between verbal and performance skills are unusually common among children who have attention issues.

Some theorists propose that verbal scores measure academic achievement and acquired information, while performance scores measure the raw ability to process new variables simultaneously. A gap between the two might reflect an underlying disruption in how different regions of the brain communicate. Xin Chen, a researcher at Fujian Children’s Hospital in China, and colleagues designed an experiment to see how this intelligence gap impacts day-to-day behavior.

The research team recruited 114 children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All participants were between the ages of six and twelve and had general intelligence test scores of 70 or higher. None of the children were currently taking medication for their attention symptoms.

Examiners administered a standard cognitive test to measure each child’s verbal and performance abilities. Based on the results, the investigators divided the children into two roughly matched groups. One group possessed a large gap between their verbal and performance scores. The other group had relatively balanced profiles without an intelligence gap.

To measure real-world skills, the research team asked the children’s parents to complete a standardized behavioral survey. The questionnaire asked caregivers to rate how often their child struggled with daily tasks. It covered specific categories like emotional control, physical organization, working memory, and task initiation.

The children also completed a computerized test to gauge their ability to process sights and sounds. The software required participants to click a mouse when they saw or heard the number one. They were instructed to hold back completely when they encountered the number two. This allowed the researchers to measure both raw reaction times and the ability to suppress an incorrect response.

To understand the biological mechanisms behind these behaviors, the scientists selected a random subset of 46 children. This smaller group underwent brain imaging while performing a second computerized assessment. The researchers utilized a noninvasive imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy uses a specialized cap fitted with small light sensors. These sensors project harmless beams of near-infrared light through the scalp and skull. By measuring how the light scatters and bounces back, the system can detect changes in the concentration of oxygenated blood. Active brain tissue requires more oxygen, so tracking blood flow allows researchers to map out which brain areas are working the hardest.

While wearing the sensor cap, the subset of children played a game meant to trigger their impulse control. The screen displayed images of different animals in quick succession. The children were told to press a button as fast as possible when they saw a cat or a dog.

At random intervals, the game switched its rules. When an image of a chicken appeared, the children had to press the button. When an image of a duck appeared, they had to entirely stop themselves from reacting.

The overall results revealed a distinct pattern among the children who possessed an intelligence gap. On the parent surveys, this group scored worse on overall executive function compared to the children with balanced intelligence. Caregivers reported that children with an intelligence gap struggled the most with starting new tasks and shifting smoothly between different activities.

Similar outcomes appeared during the computerized visual and auditory tests. The group with an intelligence gap recorded slower overall reaction times. They had particular difficulty with the visual portions of the test, committing more errors when trying to hold back a mouse click.

When researchers looked back at the original intelligence tests, they noticed the biggest difference between the two groups came down to arithmetic scores. Arithmetic requires a child to hold numbers in their working memory and manipulate them mentally. The scientists suggest that this specific weakness heavily influences how severe a child’s attention symptoms might appear.

The brain imaging data provided a biological reflection of these behavioral struggles. During the animal game, the children with an intelligence gap showed reduced blood flow to the right medial prefrontal cortex. This brain area is heavily involved in regulating emotions, maintaining motivation, and making decisions.

The researchers found a direct relationship between the severity of a child’s attention deficits and the lack of blood flow in that specific frontal region. Children whose parents reported the highest levels of daily distractibility showed the lowest levels of oxygenated blood in the medial prefrontal cortex. Conversely, the results were not statistically significant when the researchers looked at the left prefrontal cortex or the temporal lobes.

Through statistical modeling, the team also identified a behavioral trait known as monitoring as a primary indicator for hyperactivity and scattered attention. Monitoring is the mental ability to supervise one’s own work to ensure a goal is met. Children who lack this supervisory skill are highly prone to careless errors in school and social settings.

The study authors listed several caveats to their findings. The project relied on older, revised editions of standard intelligence and behavioral assessments. Relying on these older formats might make it difficult to compare the current data against research conducted with newly updated testing standards.

Additionally, the participant pool was limited exclusively to Chinese children. Behaviors and test outcomes can be influenced by cultural or educational environments, meaning the results might not automatically apply to other populations. The study design also grouped all types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder together, rather than separating children who are mostly hyperactive from those who just struggle to focus.

The investigators also did not include a control group of typically developing children. Having a baseline comparison would help isolate whether the blood flow patterns are unique to the intelligence gap or a broader feature of attention deficits. Future projects will need to incorporate larger sample sizes and different types of cognitive tasks.

Brain imaging technology also has inherent limitations. The light sensors can pick up noise from superficial blood flow in the scalp, which can sometimes blur the deeper brain signals. The authors suggest that subsequent experiments should use advanced equipment channels to filter out surface-level interference.

The study, “Effect of Intelligence Quotient Discrepancy on Attention and Executive Function in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An fNIRS Study,” was authored by Xin Chen, Liang-liang Chen, Jing-rong Wang, Ying-ying Cai, and Xiao-dan Yu.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-how-uneven-intelligence-scores-relate-to-attention-deficits-i/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #IQDiscrepancy #ADHDinChildren #AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder #ExecutiveFunction #VerbalVsPerformanceIQ #fNIRS #BrainImaging #PrefrontalCortex #ChildCognition #NeuroImageResearch

The brain doesn't work in isolation, and neither should your imaging setup🧠⚡ At booth #39-40, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are showing #fNIRS + #EEG multimodality: hemodynamic & electrophysiological signals combined in a wearable, portable setup ready for lab and real-world use.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

Come find us before the doors close! #OHBM2026 #MobileBrainImaging #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

The brain doesn't work in isolation, and neither should your imaging setup🧠⚡ At booth #39-40, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are showing #fNIRS + #EEG multimodality: hemodynamic & electrophysiological signals combined in a wearable, portable setup ready for lab and real-world use.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

Come find us before the doors close! #OHBM2026 #MobileBrainImaging #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

The brain doesn't work in isolation, and neither should your imaging setup🧠⚡ At booth #39-40, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are showing #fNIRS + #EEG multimodality: hemodynamic & electrophysiological signals combined in a wearable, portable setup ready for lab and real-world use.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

Come find us before the doors close! #OHBM2026 #MobileBrainImaging #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

The brain doesn't work in isolation, and neither should your imaging setup🧠⚡ At booth #39-40, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are showing #fNIRS + #EEG multimodality: hemodynamic & electrophysiological signals combined in a wearable, portable setup ready for lab and real-world use.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

Come find us before the doors close! #OHBM2026 #MobileBrainImaging #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

The brain doesn't work in isolation, and neither should your imaging setup🧠⚡ At booth #39-40, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are showing #fNIRS + #EEG multimodality: hemodynamic & electrophysiological signals combined in a wearable, portable setup ready for lab and real-world use.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

Come find us before the doors close! #OHBM2026 #MobileBrainImaging #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

Combining transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), #EEG, and #fNIRS in a single setup opens exciting possibilities for studying the brain in action. In this blogpost, we explore the Starstim-fNIRS solution developed through the collaboration between Neuroelectrics and Artinis.

🔗 https://zurl.co/ouTfY

30 brains. One experiment. Meet Brite Ultra — the world's only mass #fNIRS #hyperscanning system by Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies — live at booth #39-40 today.
Lightweight, wireless, and built to synchronize up to 30 participants at once.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

You have to see this for yourself! #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BriteUltra #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

30 brains. One experiment. Meet Brite Ultra — the world's only mass #fNIRS #hyperscanning system by Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies — live at booth #39-40 today.
Lightweight, wireless, and built to synchronize up to 30 participants at once.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

You have to see this for yourself! #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BriteUltra #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

30 brains. One experiment. Meet Brite Ultra — the world's only mass #fNIRS #hyperscanning system by Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies — live at booth #39-40 today.
Lightweight, wireless, and built to synchronize up to 30 participants at once.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

You have to see this for yourself! #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BriteUltra #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

30 brains. One experiment. Meet Brite Ultra — the world's only mass #fNIRS #hyperscanning system by Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies — live at booth #39-40 today.
Lightweight, wireless, and built to synchronize up to 30 participants at once.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

You have to see this for yourself! #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BriteUltra #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

30 brains. One experiment. Meet Brite Ultra — the world's only mass #fNIRS #hyperscanning system by Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies — live at booth #39-40 today.
Lightweight, wireless, and built to synchronize up to 30 participants at once.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

You have to see this for yourself! #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BriteUltra #Neuroscience
https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux

At booth #39-40 today, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are demoing #fNIRS + #TMS, a powerful combination for brain stimulation research that gives you both the trigger and the response. Come, join us at 1 PM!

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BrainStimulation #Neuroscience #Neuroimaging

At booth #39-40 today, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are demoing #fNIRS + #TMS, a powerful combination for brain stimulation research that gives you both the trigger and the response. Come, join us at 1 PM!

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BrainStimulation #Neuroscience #Neuroimaging

At booth #39-40 today, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are demoing #fNIRS + #TMS, a powerful combination for brain stimulation research that gives you both the trigger and the response. Come, join us at 1 PM!

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BrainStimulation #Neuroscience #Neuroimaging

At booth #39-40 today, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are demoing #fNIRS + #TMS, a powerful combination for brain stimulation research that gives you both the trigger and the response. Come, join us at 1 PM!

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BrainStimulation #Neuroscience #Neuroimaging

At booth #39-40 today, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are demoing #fNIRS + #TMS, a powerful combination for brain stimulation research that gives you both the trigger and the response. Come, join us at 1 PM!

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

https://www.artinis-nirx.com/ohbm-2026-bordeaux #🧠 #OHBM2026 #BrainStimulation #Neuroscience #Neuroimaging

Today at booth #39-40, Artinis & @NIRx Medical Technologies are showing you live how #fNIRS and #fMRI complement each other in multimodal brain research, combining the precision of fMRI with the flexibility of fNIRS for a fuller picture of brain activity.

Visit booth #44 for:
🔹 APEX EEG + Brite fNIRS
🔹 SAGA EEG + NIRSport2 demos!

Come say hi in Bordeaux! #🧠 #OHBM2026 #Neuroimaging #BrainResearch

By pairing #fNIRS with #EEG, researchers can simultaneously measure fast neuronal responses alongside cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamic changes, offering a more complete picture of brain function. In this blogpost, we explore the advantages, challenges, and practical considerations of combining both techniques, including how wearable systems such as the Brite can support #multimodal brain monitoring in more naturalistic and patient-friendly environments.

🔗 https://zurl.co/Ehclm

Big news 🧠 Artinis + NIRx are now one team. Two #fNIRS pioneers, 20+ years each, one mission: helping more researchers run more experiments and publish more findings. The broadest fNIRS portfolio, one product-led roadmap, the same people you trust.
fNIRS is just getting started.

Combining #fNIRS and #EEG offers researchers a powerful way to study brain function by capturing both hemodynamic and electrophysiological activity simultaneously. In this blogpost, we discuss important considerations for integrated fNIRS-EEG measurements, including electrode placement, interference prevention, motion artifacts, and setup optimization for reliable data collection.

🔗 https://zurl.co/aVFPU

Wang et al. (2025) explored how parallel cognitive-motor tasks during robot-assisted #rehabilitation affect cortical hemodynamic responses. Using the wearable Brite #fNIRS device, the authors monitored prefrontal brain activation and highlight how combining #cognitive and motor training may help optimize #neurorehabilitation strategies and better understand patient workload during therapy.

🔗 https://zurl.co/Z7LEf

In a recent proof-of-concept study, Haran Sened and colleagues explored inter-brain plasticity during #psychotherapy for test anxiety.
Using the Brite for #fNIRS hyperscanning, the researchers measured therapist and patient brain activity in participants undergoing a 6-session test anxiety treatment. Their results showed that inter-brain synchrony gradually increased over treatment and was associated with reduced symptoms and improved wellbeing.

🔗 https://zurl.co/capgc

In a recent proof-of-concept study, Haran Sened and colleagues explored inter-brain plasticity during #psychotherapy for test anxiety.
Using the Brite for #fNIRS hyperscanning, the researchers measured therapist and patient brain activity in participants undergoing a 6-session test anxiety treatment. Their results showed that inter-brain synchrony gradually increased over treatment and was associated with reduced symptoms and improved wellbeing.

🔗 https://zurl.co/capgc

In a recent proof-of-concept study, Haran Sened and colleagues explored inter-brain plasticity during #psychotherapy for test anxiety.
Using the Brite for #fNIRS hyperscanning, the researchers measured therapist and patient brain activity in participants undergoing a 6-session test anxiety treatment. Their results showed that inter-brain synchrony gradually increased over treatment and was associated with reduced symptoms and improved wellbeing.

🔗 https://zurl.co/capgc

In a recent proof-of-concept study, Haran Sened and colleagues explored inter-brain plasticity during #psychotherapy for test anxiety.
Using the Brite for #fNIRS hyperscanning, the researchers measured therapist and patient brain activity in participants undergoing a 6-session test anxiety treatment. Their results showed that inter-brain synchrony gradually increased over treatment and was associated with reduced symptoms and improved wellbeing.

🔗 https://zurl.co/capgc

In a recent proof-of-concept study, Haran Sened and colleagues explored inter-brain plasticity during #psychotherapy for test anxiety.
Using the Brite for #fNIRS hyperscanning, the researchers measured therapist and patient brain activity in participants undergoing a 6-session test anxiety treatment. Their results showed that inter-brain synchrony gradually increased over treatment and was associated with reduced symptoms and improved wellbeing.

🔗 https://zurl.co/capgc

In a recent systematic review, Gong et al. (2024) explored how #fNIRS is being used to monitor brain function, predict recovery outcomes, and evaluate responses to #rehabilitation interventions in poststroke patients with upper limb hemiplegia. The review included 52 studies and highlights how fNIRS can provide valuable insights into cortical activation patterns during paretic upper limb movement.

🔗 https://zurl.co/EuW5Y

Li et al. (2025) use #fNIRS based #hyperscanning to explore how teacher–student interaction affects language learning under anxiety.

🟡 When anxiety is high, synchronized brain activity between teacher and student becomes a key factor in successful learning outcomes.
🔵 Teacher interaction can actively buffer the negative effects of anxiety and improve language acquisition.
🟡 Hyperscanning opens a new window into real-time educational dynamics.

🔗 https://zurl.co/8bWBJ

Using #fNIRS #hyperscanning, Li et al. (2025) show that when individuals from different backgrounds engage in real-world problem solving, inter-brain synchronization (IBS) increases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region linked to executive function.
Their findings offer a valuable lens on cross-functional teams, innovation processes, and how we design collaborative environments.

🔗 Read more: https://zurl.co/52Bex

#Neuroscience #CognitiveScience

Using #fNIRS #hyperscanning, Li et al. (2025) show that when individuals from different backgrounds engage in real-world problem solving, inter-brain synchronization (IBS) increases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region linked to executive function.
Their findings offer a valuable lens on cross-functional teams, innovation processes, and how we design collaborative environments.

🔗 Read more: https://zurl.co/52Bex

#Neuroscience #CognitiveScience

Using #fNIRS #hyperscanning, Li et al. (2025) show that when individuals from different backgrounds engage in real-world problem solving, inter-brain synchronization (IBS) increases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region linked to executive function.
Their findings offer a valuable lens on cross-functional teams, innovation processes, and how we design collaborative environments.

🔗 Read more: https://zurl.co/52Bex

#Neuroscience #CognitiveScience

Using #fNIRS #hyperscanning, Li et al. (2025) show that when individuals from different backgrounds engage in real-world problem solving, inter-brain synchronization (IBS) increases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region linked to executive function.
Their findings offer a valuable lens on cross-functional teams, innovation processes, and how we design collaborative environments.

🔗 Read more: https://zurl.co/52Bex

#Neuroscience #CognitiveScience

Using #fNIRS #hyperscanning, Li et al. (2025) show that when individuals from different backgrounds engage in real-world problem solving, inter-brain synchronization (IBS) increases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region linked to executive function.
Their findings offer a valuable lens on cross-functional teams, innovation processes, and how we design collaborative environments.

🔗 Read more: https://zurl.co/52Bex

#Neuroscience #CognitiveScience

Curious to learn how to study real interactions in large groups but missed our Hyperscanning Summer School? 

In this session, David Zijderveld walks us through:
🟡 What makes Brite Ultra the hyperscanning fNIRS device
🔵 How it enables seamless large-group measurements
🟡 What this means for the future of social neuroscience

🔗 Catch up anytime and see large-scale hyperscanning in action:

https://zurl.co/FGlKY

#Hyperscanning #fNIRS #BriteUltra #Artinis #Neuroscience #SocialInteraction

Curious to learn how to study real interactions in large groups but missed our Hyperscanning Summer School? 

In this session, David Zijderveld walks us through:
🟡 What makes Brite Ultra the hyperscanning fNIRS device
🔵 How it enables seamless large-group measurements
🟡 What this means for the future of social neuroscience

🔗 Catch up anytime and see large-scale hyperscanning in action:

https://zurl.co/FGlKY

#Hyperscanning #fNIRS #BriteUltra #Artinis #Neuroscience #SocialInteraction

Curious to learn how to study real interactions in large groups but missed our Hyperscanning Summer School? 

In this session, David Zijderveld walks us through:
🟡 What makes Brite Ultra the hyperscanning fNIRS device
🔵 How it enables seamless large-group measurements
🟡 What this means for the future of social neuroscience

🔗 Catch up anytime and see large-scale hyperscanning in action:

https://zurl.co/FGlKY

#Hyperscanning #fNIRS #BriteUltra #Artinis #Neuroscience #SocialInteraction

Curious to learn how to study real interactions in large groups but missed our Hyperscanning Summer School? 

In this session, David Zijderveld walks us through:
🟡 What makes Brite Ultra the hyperscanning fNIRS device
🔵 How it enables seamless large-group measurements
🟡 What this means for the future of social neuroscience

🔗 Catch up anytime and see large-scale hyperscanning in action:

https://zurl.co/FGlKY

#Hyperscanning #fNIRS #BriteUltra #Artinis #Neuroscience #SocialInteraction

Curious to learn how to study real interactions in large groups but missed our Hyperscanning Summer School? 

In this session, David Zijderveld walks us through:
🟡 What makes Brite Ultra the hyperscanning fNIRS device
🔵 How it enables seamless large-group measurements
🟡 What this means for the future of social neuroscience

🔗 Catch up anytime and see large-scale hyperscanning in action:

https://zurl.co/FGlKY

#Hyperscanning #fNIRS #BriteUltra #Artinis #Neuroscience #SocialInteraction

🧠 When we hear the term Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) the mind conjures up some medical equipment used at a sterile lab under harsh lights - far away from our living rooms - but today's consumer gadgets can collect and AI-process the same brain data like EEG, EMG, fNIRS. Some we use them everyday❗

💯 Transparency in product labelling matters for privacy considerations.

#BCI #neurorights #mentalprivacy #cognitiveliberty #EEG #EMG #fNIRS

Ok. Now expert* on Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy....
(* for very limited and generous interpretations of 'expert')
#projects #fNIRS

Ok. Now expert* on Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy....
(* for very limited and generous interpretations of 'expert')
#projects #fNIRS

Ok. Now expert* on Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy....
(* for very limited and generous interpretations of 'expert')
#projects #fNIRS

Ok. Now expert* on Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy....
(* for very limited and generous interpretations of 'expert')
#projects #fNIRS

In this recent article, St. Clair et al. (2025) use #fNIRS hyperscanning to examine neural coherence between children aged 4 to 6 and their mothers during joint tasks. One of the strengths of this paper is the care taken in handling the data. By refining the analysis approach for developmental hyperscanning, the observed synchrony reflects real interaction effects rather than noise.
🔗 https://zurl.co/TkoPK

#Hyperscanning #Neuroscience