OptoNet II: An Advanced MATLAB-Based Toolbox for Functional Cortical Connectivity Analysis With Surrogate Tests Using fNIRS

Cortical connectivity analysis is a widely used method for understanding the causes of neurological disorders and related brain mechanisms. Although there exist numerous activity analysis toolboxes for functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), there are only a few cortical connectivity analysis toolboxes. In 2019, we released a MATALB toolbox named OptoNet, which has helped researchers to analyze brain networks using fNIRS. In this study, we developed an advanced MATLAB toolbox, named OptoNet II, to add new features that overcome the shortcomings of OptoNet. With these new features, OptoNet II can efficiently analyze cortical connectivity according to brain region using any fNIRS channel sets and can present the results of two connectivity analyses with auto-thresholding based on surrogate tests. To evaluate the efficacy of the new functions, the finger-tapping task experiment was carried out before and after transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the primary motor area. OptoNet II can efficiently show the effects of tDCS on functional brain region connectivity, which has been difficult to confirm by conventional methods. In this article, we propose the OptoNet II as a useful and efficient toolbox for researchers who want to perform cortical connectivity analysis using fNIRS.