Applications of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in Sport Sciences: A Systematic Review

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 9 - 27, 30.06.2025

Muhammed Sıddık Çemç , Özgür Gülen

https://doi.org/10.51538/intjourexerpsyc.1677927

Abstract

With advancing technological capabilities, neuroimaging techniques that analyze brain activity play a critical role in optimizing athletes' cognitive and physical performance. In this context, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), with its ability to provide real-time measurements, emerges as an innovative tool bridging the fields of sport sciences and neuroscience. This systematic review aims to examine the use of fNIRS technology in sport sciences and identify its contributions to evaluating athletes' cognitive performance and neurophysiological responses. Using the keywords "fNIRS," "sports," and "athletes," a systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science database to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles published between 2017 and 2024. A total of 35 studies were included based on their focus on cognitive performance, executive functions, and neurophysiological outcomes related to exercise or participation in sports. The reviewed studies demonstrate that fNIRS is an effective tool for enhancing cognitive performance, observing neurological adaptations, and understanding the acute and chronic effects of exercise. In conclusion, fNIRS stands out as an innovative technology in understanding cognitive and neurophysiological processes in sport sciences. Its portability and usability under field conditions offer extensive applications for improving athletes' performance and preserving their neurological health. In the future, broader use of this technology in sport sciences—particularly in field-based testing, rehabilitation processes, and assessments involving young or elite athletes—and its integration with other neuroimaging techniques are expected to yield more comprehensive and context-specific findings.

Keywords

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), brain activation, cognitive performance, executive function, exercise neuroscience

Spor Bilimlerinde Fonksiyonel Yakın Kızılötesi Spektroskopi (fNIRS) Uygulamaları: Sistematik Derleme

Abstract

Gelişen teknolojik imkanlar dahilinde beyin aktivitesini analiz eden nöro-görüntüleme teknikleri, sporcuların bilişsel ve fiziksel performansını optimize etmede kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, gerçek zamanlı ölçümler yapabilme özelliği ile İşlevsel Yakın Kızılötesi Spektroskopi (fNIRS), spor bilimleri ve nörobilim arasındaki köprüyü oluşturan yenilikçi bir araç olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu sistematik derlemenin amacı, spor bilimleri alanında fNIRS teknolojisinin kullanımını incelemek ve sporcuların bilişsel performansları ile nörofizyolojik tepkilerini değerlendirmede sağladığı katkıları belirlemektir. Araştırmada, "fNIRS", "sports" ve "athletes" anahtar kelimeleri kullanılarak Web of Science veri tabanında sistematik bir tarama gerçekleştirilmiştir. 2017 ile 2024 yılları arasında yayımlanmış hakemli makaleler arasından, egzersiz ya da spora katılım ile ilişkili bilişsel performans, yürütücü işlevler ve nörofizyolojik çıktılara odaklanan toplam 35 çalışma incelemeye dahil edilmiştir. İncelenen çalışmalar, fNIRS teknolojisinin bilişsel performansı artırma, nörolojik adaptasyonları gözlemleme ve egzersizin akut/kronik etkilerini anlama konularında etkili bir araç olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak fNIRS’ın spor bilimlerinde bilişsel ve nöro-fizyolojik süreçlerin anlaşılmasında yenilikçi bir teknoloji olarak kendini gösterdiği, taşınabilirliği ve saha koşullarında kullanılabilirliği ile sporcuların performansını artırmak ve nörolojik sağlıklarını korumak için geniş uygulama alanları sunduğu görülmektedir. Gelecekte, bu teknolojinin spor bilimlerinde (özellikle saha tabanlı testlerde, rehabilitasyon süreçlerinde ve genç veya elit sporcuları içeren değerlendirmelerde) daha geniş kullanımının ve diğer nörogörüntüleme teknikleriyle entegrasyonunun daha kapsamlı ve bağlama özgü bulgular sağlaması beklenmektedir.

Keywords

Beyin Aktivasyonu, Bilişsel Performans, Yürütücü İşlev, Egzersiz Nörobilimi, Fonksiyonel Yakın Kızılötesi Spektroskopi (fNIRS)

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