Chromophore
Definition: A chromophore is a molecule that absorbs light within a specific wavelength range, spanning from ultraviolet to infrared light. Within the near-infrared spectrum, the primary chromophores in biological tissues include water, hemoglobin, lipids, and cytochrome oxidase. Notably, light achieves its deepest penetration into tissue at wavelengths approximately between 700 and 900 nm. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) employs multiple wavelengths in order to sensitively distinguish between changes in the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, providing valuable insights into tissue oxygenation and, by extension, neural activity.
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References: https://doi.org/10.1176/jnp.2010.22.4.ivhttps://doi.org/10.1117/1.nph.9.4.040601
https://doi.org/10.1364/boe.6.000933
https://doi.org/10.5772/32493
Related terms: hemoglobin, cytochrome, wavelength