Mapping the Global Landscape and Thematic Evolution of fNIRS-Gait Research: A Systematic Bibliometric and Network Visualization Analysis

Background

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has emerged as an essential optical neuroimaging modality in human locomotion, yet a comprehensive computational mapping of its structural and thematic evolution remains absent. This study provides a systematic, data-driven scientometric evaluation of the global fNIRS-gait research landscape across a quarter-century (2002–April 2026).