Overview

• Researchers at the University of Glasgow directed pulsed laser beams at one side of a volunteer’s head and captured transmitted photons with sensitive detectors on the opposite side.
• The study, published May 28 in Neurophotonics, marks the first confirmed observation of photon transport across the full width of an adult human head.
• Using detailed computer modeling, the team identified that photons preferentially navigate regions of lower scattering, such as cerebrospinal fluid.
• Current experiments require a 30-minute data collection on fair-skinned, minimally haired subjects, underscoring limitations for immediate clinical application.
• These results could inform the development of next-generation fNIRS systems designed for affordable, portable deep-brain diagnostics.