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A new generation of magnetoencephalography: room temperature measurements using optically-pumped magnetometers

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posted on 2023-06-09, 15:35 authored by Elena Boto, Sofie S Meyer, Vishal Shah, Orang Alem, Svenja Knappe, Peter KruegerPeter Krueger, T Mark Fromhold, Mark Lim, Paul M Glover, Peter G Morris, Richard Bowtell, Gareth R Barnes, Matthew J Brookes
Advances in the field of quantum sensing mean that magnetic field sensors, operating at room temperature, are now able to achieve sensitivity similar to that of cryogenically cooled devices (SQUIDs). This means that room temperature magnetoencephalography (MEG), with a greatly increased flexibility of sensor placement can now be considered. Further, these new sensors can be placed directly on the scalp surface giving, theoretically, a large increase in the magnitude of the measured signal. Here, we present recordings made using a single optically-pumped magnetometer (OPM) in combination with a 3D-printed head-cast designed to accurately locate and orient the sensor relative to brain anatomy. Since our OPM is configured as a magnetometer it is highly sensitive to environmental interference. However, we show that this problem can be ameliorated via the use of simultaneous reference sensor recordings. Using median nerve stimulation, we show that the OPM can detect both evoked (phase-locked) and induced (non-phase-locked oscillatory) changes when placed over sensory cortex, with signals ~4 times larger than equivalent SQUID measurements. Using source modelling, we show that our system allows localisation of the evoked response to somatosensory cortex. Further, source-space modelling shows that, with 13 sequential OPM measurements, source-space signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is comparable to that from a 271-channel SQUID system. Our results highlight the opportunity presented by OPMs to generate uncooled, potentially low-cost, high SNR MEG systems.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

NeuroImage

ISSN

1053-8119

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

149

Page range

404-414

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Research Group Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-10-23

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-10-23

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-10-22

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