BRAINBODY CONNECT 2025 AWARD
Quantifying the Impact of Controlled Hypercapnia on Task-Evoked fNIRS Signals Using Multimodal Brain–Body Monitoring
About the project
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive brain imaging method that measures changes in blood oxygenation to study brain activity. Because it is portable, safe, and relatively affordable, fNIRS is increasingly used in neuroscience and clinical research. However, fNIRS signals are not solely influenced by brain activity. They are also affected by normal bodily processes — especially changes in blood carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels, which strongly influence cerebral blood flow.
In this project, we will examine how controlled increases in CO₂ (a condition known as hypercapnia) affect fNIRS signals during a simple motor task (finger tapping). Using advanced multimodal monitoring, we will simultaneously measure brain oxygenation, breathing, heart activity, and precisely controlled CO₂ levels. This approach allows us to distinguish brain-driven signals from whole-body physiological effects.
By better understanding how systemic physiology shapes fNIRS measurements, this study will improve the accuracy and reliability of brain imaging research. The findings will help researchers design better experiments and strengthen the interpretation of fNIRS data in neuroscience, brain–body research, and clinical applications.
Meet the researchers
Dr. Daniel Milej
is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at Western University and a Scientist at Lawson Research Institute. His research focuses on developing advanced optical and multimodal imaging technologies to monitor brain physiology and pathology. With a background in biomedical engineering and biophotonics, he translates innovative sensing and imaging methods into practical tools for neuroscience, neuromonitoring, and critical care.
Dr. Androu Abdalmalak
is a neuroscientist and functional neuroimaging specialist with expertise in fNIRS. He is a Research Associate at Western University and the Lawson Research Institute, where his work focuses on assessing brain function in patients with brain injuries and on developing new techniques to improve the sensitivity of fNIRS to the brain. Beyond his academic work, he is also the Founder and Principal Consultant of Synapse NeuroAnalytics Inc., a company dedicated to supporting researchers and organizations with rigorous fNIRS analysis, training, and applied neurotechnology.
