Pushing the boundaries of MEG based on optically pumped magnetometers towards early human life

Corvilain, Pierre; Wens, Vincent; Bourguignon, Mathieu; Capparini, Chiara; Fourdin, Lauréline; Ferez, Maxime; Feys, Odile; De Tiège, Xavier; Bertels, Julie

doi:10.1101/2023.10.28.564455

“…Further, because sensors move with the head, movement is possible during a scan. OPM-MEG is, ostensibly, ideal for children; for example, Hill et al showed the viability of OPM-MEG in a 2 year old 32 ; Feys et al showed advantages for epileptic spike detection in children 33 , and Corvilain et al demonstrated utility even in the first weeks of life 34 . However, no studies have yet used OPM-MEG in large groups to measure neurodevelopment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations: an OPM-MEG study

Rier,

Rhodes,

Pakenham

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Neural oscillations mediate coordination of activity within and between brain networks, supporting cognition and behaviour. How these processes develop throughout childhood is not only a critical neuroscientific question but could also shed light on the mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, measuring the neurodevelopmental trajectory of oscillations has been hampered by confounds from instrumentation. In this paper, we investigate the suitability of a disruptive new imaging platform – Optically Pumped Magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) – to study oscillations during brain development. We show how a unique 192-channel OPM-MEG device, which is adaptable to head size and robust to participant movement, can be used to collect high-fidelity electrophysiological data in individuals aged between 2 and 34 years. Data were collected during a somatosensory task, and we measured both stimulus-induced modulation of beta oscillations in sensory cortex, and whole-brain connectivity, showing that both modulate significantly with age. Moreover, we show that pan-spectral bursts of electrophysiological activity drive beta oscillations throughout neurodevelopment, and how their probability of occurrence and spectral content changes with age. Our results offer new insights into the developmental trajectory of oscillations and provide the first clear evidence that OPM-MEG is an ideal platform for studying electrophysiology in children.

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“…Further, because sensors move with the head, movement is possible during a scan. OPM-MEG is, ostensibly, ideal for children; e.g., Hill et al showed the viability of OPM-MEG in a 2 year old ( Hill et al, 2019 ); Feys et al showed advantages for epileptic spike detection in children ( Feys et al, 2022 ), and Corvilain et al demonstrated utility even in the first weeks of life ( Corvilain et al, 2023 ). However, no studies have yet used OPM-MEG in large groups to measure neurodevelopment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracking the neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations with optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography

Rier,

Rhodes,

Pakenham

et al. 2024

eLife

1

0

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Neural oscillations mediate coordination of activity within and between brain networks, supporting cognition and behaviour. How these processes develop throughout childhood is not only a critical neuroscientific question but could also shed light on the mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, measuring the neurodevelopmental trajectory of oscillations has been hampered by confounds from instrumentation. In this paper, we investigate the suitability of a disruptive new imaging platform – Optically Pumped Magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) – to study oscillations during brain development. We show how a unique 192-channel OPM-MEG device, which is adaptable to head size and robust to participant movement, can be used to collect high-fidelity electrophysiological data in individuals aged between 2 and 34 years. Data were collected during a somatosensory task, and we measured both stimulus-induced modulation of beta oscillations in sensory cortex, and whole-brain connectivity, showing that both modulate significantly with age. Moreover, we show that pan-spectral bursts of electrophysiological activity drive beta oscillations throughout neurodevelopment, and how their probability of occurrence and spectral content changes with age. Our results offer new insights into the developmental trajectory of oscillations and provide the first clear evidence that OPM-MEG is an ideal platform for studying electrophysiology in children.

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A Novel, Robust, and Portable Platform for Magnetoencephalography using Optically Pumped Magnetometers

Schofield,

Hill,

Feys

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measures brain function via assessment of magnetic fields generated by neural currents. Conventional MEG uses superconducting sensors, which place significant limitations on performance, practicality, and deployment; however, the field has been revolutionised in recent years by the introduction of optically-pumped-magnetometers (OPMs). OPMs enable measurement of the MEG signal without cryogenics, and consequently the conception of ‘OPM-MEG’ systems which ostensibly allow increased sensitivity and resolution, lifespan compliance, free subject movement, and lower cost. However, OPM-MEG remains in its infancy with limitations on both sensor and system design. Here, we report a new OPM-MEG design with miniaturised and integrated electronic control, a high level of portability, and improved sensor dynamic range (arguably the biggest limitation of existing instrumentation). We show that this system produces equivalent measures when compared to an established instrument; specifically, when measuring task-induced beta-band, gamma-band and evoked neuro-electrical responses, source localisations from the two systems were highly comparable and temporal correlation was >0.7 at the individual level and >0.9 for groups. Using an electromagnetic phantom, we demonstrate improved dynamic range by running the system in background fields up to 8 nT. We show that the system is effective in gathering data during free movement (including a sitting-to-standing paradigm) and that it is compatible with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG – the clinical standard). Finally, we demonstrate portability by moving the system between two laboratories. Overall, our new system is shown to be a significant step forward for OPM-MEG technology and offers an attractive platform for next generation functional medical imaging.

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Pushing the boundaries of MEG based on optically pumped magnetometers towards early human life

Cited by 6 publications

References 67 publications

The neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations: an OPM-MEG study

The neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations: an OPM-MEG study

Tracking the neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations with optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography

A Novel, Robust, and Portable Platform for Magnetoencephalography using Optically Pumped Magnetometers

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