fNIRS folks @jpeelle.bsky.social@jesskosie.bsky.social ? Are event-related designs not common? A collaborator was arguing we cant use one. I am not too familiar so I want to know why.

If you're asking @jpeelle.bsky.social then get ready for the longest and most convoluted answer of your life.

It's definitely possible to use event-related designs in fNIRS - an example: doi.org/10.1016/j.ne... However it does seem less common, perhaps because (as with fMRI) block designs are more powerful for detecting main effects. I'd suggest pilot testing (both ways if you can!) to decide.