a system and method for the detection and three dimensional imaging of absorption and scattering properties of a medium such as human tissue is described . according to one embodiment of the invention , the system directs optical energy toward a turbid medium from at least one source and detects optical energy emerging from the turbid medium at a plurality of locations using at least one detector . the optical energy emerging from the medium and entering the detector originates from the source is scattered by the medium . the system then generates an image representing interior structure of the turbid medium based on the detected optical energy emerging from the medium . generating the image includes a time - series analysis .