Patent ID: 8521243

Claim:
A biological optical measurement instrument, comprising: a light irradiation means for irradiating the head of a subject with light; a light detection means for detecting transmitted light that is emitted from the light irradiation means, and that passes through a point of measurement in the head of the subject; an input unit where the type of cerebral function to be measured is inputted; a calculator that sets different analysis parameters according to the type of cerebral function inputted through the input unit, and that calculates an oxyhemoglobin concentration change signal and a deoxyhemoglobin concentration change signal at the point of measurement, on the basis of a signal detected by the light detection means, and on the basis of the analysis parameters; and a display unit that displays the result of calculation by the calculator, wherein the analysis parameters include a time parameter based on which a time period of absence of cerebral activity to be measured is set, and wherein, when the cerebral function to be measured is gustatory function, the time period of absence of cerebral activity to be measured is set based on time elapsed after a start of stimulation.