Optical imaging has enjoyed increasing application to the study of brain function. Tissue is translucent to near-infrared light, a spectral region in which hemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase have characteristic absorption features. This allows optical techniques to provide information about the reduction-oxidation state of cytochrome oxidase and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. Laser Doppler flow and Laser speckle imaging can also provide blood flow measurements. These measures of oxygen supply and utilization are important to further understanding of brain function as well as the physiological basis of functional MRI measurements.

The optical imaging laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment: in vivo confocal fluorescence imaging system (Mauna Kea Tech), Oxford Optronix Laser Doppler flow and pO2 measurement system, an optical imaging of intrinsic signals (OIS) system, imaging spectrograph for visible and near-infrared light, high intensity continuous wave light source with notch filters for wavelengths from visible to near-infrared, and Laser speckle illumination sources.