Choosing an fNIRS system

We distribute both NIRx and Artinis in Israel. That is unusual, and it is the reason this page exists. A manufacturer comparing itself to a competitor is writing marketing. We sell both, so the comparison below costs us nothing either way.

First, is fNIRS the right measure

fNIRS measures the haemodynamic response, the same signal as fMRI, using near infrared light through the scalp.

Choose fNIRS over EEG when you need to know where in the cortex, and when the subject has to move. Choose EEG over fNIRS when you need millisecond timing. ERP components live in a window fNIRS cannot see.

Choose fNIRS over fMRI when the subject cannot lie still, when the task is social or naturalistic, when you are testing infants, or when scanner time is the constraint. fMRI still wins on depth and on whole brain coverage. fNIRS reaches cortex, not deep structures.

The most common combination we install is fNIRS with EEG, for exactly this reason.

Short separation channels

Ask about this before anything else. It is the question that separates buyers who have run fNIRS from buyers who have read about it.

Near infrared light passes through scalp and skull twice before it returns to the detector. A large part of what you measure is skin blood flow, not brain. Short separation channels sit close to the source, sample the superficial layer only, and let you regress that contamination out.

Without them, systemic changes in heart rate, blood pressure and skin perfusion sit in your data looking like task activation. Reviewers know this now. Artinis offers short separation channels on the OxyMon and Brite systems.

If a quote you receive does not mention them, ask why.

How many channels, and where

Frontal only, 8 channels, is enough for prefrontal work: executive function, working memory, and most of the applied and sports literature.

Around 24 to 27 channels gives you a region with real coverage, motor cortex or temporal, with room for a proper montage.

High density, meaning dozens of sources and detectors, is what you need if you intend diffuse optical tomography or anything approaching image reconstruction. NIRSport2 scales from 8 to 80 sources and 8 to 80 detectors, and up to 5 devices synchronise together. Three connected devices give a 48 source and 48 detector arrangement.

Standard adult source to detector separation is 3 cm. Infants need shorter, which is why paediatric systems exist as separate products rather than as a setting.

Analysis, before you buy the hardware

Decide the pipeline first. It constrains the purchase more than people expect.

.snirf is the standard export format and it is what keeps you portable. Brite Connect exports it for downstream work in HOMER or MNE Python. NIRx Satori covers GLM, multi subject analysis, 2D and 3D visualisation and Python integration with no programming required, which matters if the person analysing is a first year student.

If your lab already runs Homer3, NIRSTORM or FieldTrip in MATLAB, say so in the quote request. It changes the recommendation.

Triggers and synchronisation

Both families support Lab Streaming Layer, so events stream from E-Prime or PsychoPy directly. Brite Connect also accepts events from a keyboard press, PortaSync, or the device button.

If you are combining fNIRS with EEG, decide early which system is the timing master. Doing this after both are installed is painful.

The hair problem

Nobody puts this in a brochure. Near infrared light does not pass through dense dark hair well, and signal quality on posterior sites drops accordingly.

Frontal montages avoid the problem entirely. For whole head work, budget preparation time for optode combing and expect some channel loss. Ask us about optode design before you assume a montage will work on your subject population.

Buying fNIRS in Israel

NBT is the Israeli distributor for both NIRx and Artinis. We install, train, and support here, Sunday to Thursday, on site when needed.

Send us the paradigm, the population and the analysis pipeline. Those three decide the system. We will tell you which of the two we would put in your lab, and why.

Frequently asked questions

Who distributes NIRx in Israel?
NBT (New Biotechnology Ltd) is the NIRx distribution and support partner in Israel, listed on the NIRx global partners page. Installation, application training and technical support are provided locally.

Who distributes Artinis in Israel?
NBT. We supply the full Brite family, OxySoft and Brite Connect, with local installation, training and support.

NIRx or Artinis, which is better?
Neither, and we sell both so we have no reason to say otherwise. NIRx for density, MRI compatibility and source reconstruction. Artinis for wearability, paediatrics, fast setup and large scale hyperscanning.

What are short separation channels and do I need them?
They are channels with a small source to detector distance that sample scalp blood flow so it can be regressed out of your brain signal. If you are publishing task activation, yes.

Can fNIRS be recorded with EEG at the same time?
Yes, and it is the most common combination we install. Both NIRx and Artinis systems are designed for it.

Can fNIRS be recorded inside the MRI?
With NIRx, yes. NIRxBorealis combines NIRSport2 amplifiers with fibre based laser stimulation and APD detectors for concurrent fMRI and fNIRS.

Can I study infants with fNIRS?
Yes, and it is one of the strongest cases for fNIRS over every alternative. Artinis BabyBrite is built for young babies, and the Brite Lite Frontal mini for toddlers and preschoolers.

How many participants can I record simultaneously?
Up to 5 synchronised NIRSport2 devices with NIRx. Up to 30 Brite Ultra devices with Artinis Brite Connect Ultra.

What does an fNIRS system cost?
It depends on channel count, wearability and software. Send us the paradigm and we will quote what runs it.