Relation between NIRS signal and motor capability

Brain activities of three subjects performing a right-hand tapping task were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). In experiments, the hemoglobin concentration change in the subjects´ brains while they learned a new movement was analyzed. The results of these tests show that the channels covering the left primary motor cortex recorded a decreasing tendency in oxyHb when the subjects were repeating the tapping task. In contrast, the channels covering the supplementary motor cortex recorded an increasing tendency of oxyHb. These results suggest that the functional load on the brain decreases and the brain´s active domain changes during motor learning.