| Objective Visual analysis of the research status, hotspots, and emerging trends of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology applied in the field of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods Retrieve relevant literature on the application of fNIRS in the field of autism from the Web of Science Core Collection database until April 2024, and use CiteSpace 6.3.R2 for visual analysis to draw a knowledge graph of authors, institutions, countries, keyword co-occurrence, and emergence.
Results A total of 179 articles were included. The overall annual publication volume shows a fluctuating upward trend, with Li Jun being the author with the highest publication volume, South China Normal University being the institution with the highest publication volume, and the United States being the country with the highest publication volume. Hot keywords include children, activation, brain, functional connectivity, cortex, etc. The emergence of keywords indicates that the field has initially focused on the study of brain function in children with typical and atypical development. Subsequently, the abnormal connectivity and coordination patterns between the hemispheres of ASD were further confirmed. Since the later stage of development, the main focus has been on further exploring the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between children with ASD and those with typical development, and integrating various classification algorithms using brain computer interface technology.
Conclusion The popularity of fNIRS application in autism related research is generally on the rise. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen communication and cooperation between domestic and foreign institutions, conduct in-depth analysis of the brain pathological mechanisms of autism, and achieve early identification of autism. |