Parallel factor analysis for multidimensional decomposition of functional near-infrared spectroscopy data

SIGNIFICANCE: Current techniques for data analysis in functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), such as artifact correction, do not allow to integrate the information originating from both wavelengths, considering only temporal and spatial dimensions of the signal’s structure. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) has previously been validated as a multidimensional decomposition technique in other neuroimaging fields. AIM: We aimed to introduce and validate the use of PARAFAC for the analysis of fNIRS data, which is inherently multidimensional (time, space, and wavelength). APPROACH: We used data acquired in 17 healthy adults during a verbal fluency task to compare the efficacy of PARAFAC for motion artifact correction to traditional two-dimensional decomposition techniques, i.e., target principal (tPCA) and independent component analysis (ICA). Correction performance was further evaluated under controlled conditions with simulated artifacts and hemodynamic response functions. RESULTS: PARAFAC achieved significantly higher improvement in data quality as compared to tPCA and ICA. Correction in several simulated signals further validated its use and promoted it as a robust method independent of the artifact’s characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the first implementation of PARAFAC in fNIRS and provides validation for its use to correct artifacts. PARAFAC is a promising data-driven alternative for multidimensional data analyses in fNIRS and this study paves the way for further applications.