Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to monitor human visual cortical function during and after photic stimulation (PS) in five adult volunteers. Cerebral blood volume (CBV) increased on the occipital surface during PS, but NIRS parameters did not change on the frontal surface. The increase in CBV was caused by a rapid increase in oxyhemoglobin with but a small increase in deoxyhemoglobin, suggesting cerebral vascular dilatation with decreased oxygen consumption. After PS stopped, CBV promptly decreased and then slightly increased again. Cytochrome aa3 did not show any change during and after PS. These phenomena reappeared following repeated PS in all five subjects. These results may represent the first step in the development of NIRS imaging.