Patent ID: 7233819

Claim:
A method for mapping higher brain function to map a higher brain function while a body of a subject is in a resting state or in a predetermined active state, comprising an fMRI mapping step to map a brain function of the subject by functional magnetic resonance imaging, a headgear mounting step to mount a headgear having markers on a head portion of the subject, a head portion structural image acquisition step to acquire a head portion structural image of the subject having the mounted headgear by the magnetic resonance imaging, a three-dimensional image combining step to create a three-dimensionally combined image showing the brain function and the head portion structure of the subject simultaneously by three-dimensionally combining the brain functional image obtained by the fMRI mapping step and the head portion structural image, an optical probe mounting step to specify a position on the headgear where an optical probe that is used for near-infrared spectroscopy is mounted based on the three-dimensionally combined image and to mount the optical probe at the specified position, and an NIRS measuring step to map the brain function of the subject by the near-infrared spectroscopy in a state that the headgear loaded with the optical probe is mounted on the head portion of the subject.