The Shimadzu LIGHTNIRS system is a wearable NIRS solution designed for functional brain imaging in research and clinical environments. It provides reliable, high-quality data while being portable and comfortable for participants, making it suitable for a range of cognitive and clinical studies. The system uses advanced light-emitting and sensing technology developed by Shimadzu, ensuring high signal quality for accurate hemodynamic measurement.
The three-wavelength technology (780, 805, and 830 nm) in LIGHTNIRS is a critical feature that improves signal quality. This approach enhances the ability to differentiate between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, resulting in more accurate data. It also improves depth sensitivity and reduces signal cross-talk, providing more reliable measurements.
The system is highly integrable with the Biosemi ActiveThree EEG system, enabling synchronized EEG-NIRS recordings. This integration facilitates more comprehensive research by combining the high temporal resolution of EEG with the hemodynamic information from NIRS in real-time.
One of the most powerful features of Shimadzu’s LIGHTNIRS system is its exceptional compatibility with BioSemi’s ActiveTwo and ActiveThree EEG amplifiers, enabling truly multimodal neuroimaging. Through this integration, researchers can simultaneously record high-density fNIRS and EEG data with precise temporal synchronisation, unlocking unique insights into the dynamic interplay between electrical and hemodynamic brain activity.
Combined EEG-NIRS Cap for Optimal Co-Localization
To ensure perfect spatial alignment of EEG electrodes and NIRS optodes, we offer a combined EEG-NIRS cap specifically designed for concurrent use of LIGHTNIRS and BioSemi systems. The cap layout is optimized to maintain excellent optical coupling while adhering to international EEG placement standards (10-20 or 10-10 systems). It supports a wide variety of configurations—whether you're using 32, 64, or 128 EEG channels alongside dense fNIRS probe arrays.
Accurate Synchronisation of EEG and fNIRS Data
Accurate time-locking between modalities is critical for high-quality multimodal analyses. LIGHTNIRS and BioSemi systems are synchronized via hardware trigger signals and supported by dedicated software tools to ensure sub-millisecond alignment between EEG and NIRS recordings. This enables high-resolution temporal correlation between electrophysiological responses and hemodynamic changes during cognitive tasks, motor execution, or sensory processing.
EEG-NIRS Merger Tool
Our EEG-NIRS Merger Tool streamlines the fusion of EEG and NIRS datasets into a single, synchronized file. Compatible with major analysis platforms such as MATLAB, Brainstorm, and EEGLAB, this tool allows researchers to explore cross-modal signal relationships, perform artifact correction across modalities, and co-visualize brain activity in both electrical and metabolic domains. The Merger Tool supports flexible epoching, signal quality checks, and export in standard formats for advanced statistical modeling and machine learning applications.
Together, LIGHTNIRS and BioSemi create a complete multimodal neuroimaging ecosystem—offering real-time, synchronized insights into both the fast neural oscillations of EEG and the slower vascular dynamics captured by fNIRS. This integration is ideal for research in:
Watch our 2-part video series on how EEG and NIRS are combined, recorded and analysed with the LIGHTNIRS and ActiveTwo!
Important Note: This product is for research applications only. Not a medical device as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (EU MDR), Swiss Medical Devices Ordinance (MedDO, SR 812.213), or FDA 21 CFR Part 860. Not designed or intended to be used for diagnosis, treatment of disease or any other medical purposes.
