**5. Conclusions**

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) uses low-intensity optical radiations to measure changes in light absorption by the cortical vascular tissues in order to detect changes in local concentration of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin as a correlate of functional brain activity. Several precautions are needed to obtain a clear and optimal signal that reflects the patient's brain activity. Due to its features, NIRS is the best and most practical way to depict emotional responses in prefrontal cortex (PFC).

Despite technical limitations, NIRS is a reliable method to quantify a stimulus reaction especially in PFC functioning in emotion processing. It allows to establish the optimal rehabilitation program according to a visual inspection of Hb-HbO concentration variation and by checking the functional area involved.

By measuring individual experience-based emotions encoded by PFC, it is possible to choose between different rehabilitation programs according to life experience but also to individual Hb-HbO variations.
