Near-infrared spectroscopy in schizophrenia: A bibliometric perspective

Background: Compared with current methods used to assess schizophrenia, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has the advantages of providing noninvasive and real-time monitoring of functional activities of the brain and providing direct and objective assessment information.

Aim: To explore the research field of NIRS in schizophrenia from the perspective of bibliometrics.

Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection was used as the search tool, and the last search date was April 21, 2024. Bibliometric indicators, such as the numbers of publications and citations, were recorded. Bibliometrix and VOS viewer were used for visualization analysis.

Results: A total of 355 articles from 105 journals were included in the analysis. The overall trend of the number of research publications increased. Schizophrenia Research was identified as an influential journal in the field. Kasai K was one of the most influential and productive authors in this area of research. The University of Tokyo and Japan had the highest scientific output for an institution and a country, respectively. The top ten keywords were "schizophrenia", "activation", "near-infrared spectroscopy", "verbal fluency task", "cortex", "brain, performance", "working-memory", "brain activation", and "prefrontal cortex".

Conclusion: Our study reveals the evolution of knowledge and emerging trends in the field of NIRS in schizophrenia. the research focus is shifting from underlying disease characteristics to more in-depth studies of brain function and physiological mechanisms.