Hyperscanning with fNIRS: Beyond the Lab

New Tools for Hyperscanning and Real-World Neuroscience. Hyperscanning technology allows researchers to simultaneously monitor brain activity across multiple participants. By bridging individual neural responses, it opens up new possibilities for understanding complex social behaviors—including cooperation, competition, empathy, and communication. Cortivision’s highly portable functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems are specifically designed to facilitate precise, synchronized data collection across participants in dynamic and naturalistic settings, taking neuroscience beyond the traditional laboratory. Scalable Hardware: Spectrum & Photon Cap. Cortivision offers flexible hardware solutions tailored to different scales of hyperscanning research:. Spectrum fNIRS System: Featuring a modular design and customizable optode placement, the Spectrum accommodates up to 48 sources and 32 detectors. It is ideal for monitoring larger groups or requiring full-head/region-focused setups (e.g., investigating prefrontal cortex dynamics in decision-making)., Photon Cap: An excellent entry-level solution for smaller-scale, highly mobile studies. Its lightweight design ensures participants can move and engage freely, making it perfect for naturalistic interpersonal interactions. Precision and Synchronization in Motion. Both the Spectrum and Photon Cap systems are equipped with built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes for advanced motion artifact control. This reduces noise related to participant movement, ensuring data quality even during highly active social settings. Furthermore, seamless integration with the LabStreaming Layer (LSL) protocol guarantees precise, real-time synchronization across devices and multimodal setups (such as concurrent EEG or VR integration). Advanced Software: CortiView & CortiPrism. Cortivision’s software ecosystem ensures researchers have the resources to transform raw data into actionable insights:. CortiView: Supports real-time monitoring, customizable montage setups, and flexible data acquisition control throughout the study., CortiPrism: Enables advanced post-processing and analysis of hyperscanning data, offering detailed visualizations, GLM-based modeling, and comprehensive group-level comparisons.