On-Scalp MEG

• The development of new magnetic sensor technologies with relaxed thermal insulation requirements as compared to conventional magnetoencephalography (MEG) sensors has led to the birth of the field of on-scalp MEG, where sensor systems are flexibly placed directly on the scalp surface. Such improved proximity between the sensors and the brain has been theoretically demonstrated to boost signal levels and neuroimaging spatial resolution. Since the first on-scalp MEG measurements in 2012, a number of studies have experimentally verified these advantages with the two leading sensor technologies, namely, high criticaltemperature SQUIDs (high-Tc SQUIDs) and optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs). Current challenges being addressed that are specific to on-scalp MEG include relatively high sensor noise levels (specifically for high-Tc SQUIDs), limited bandwidth (specifically for OPMs), co-registration of a flexible sensor array, increased sensor crosstalk due to the denser spatial sampling required for improved spatial resolution, and engineering of a full-head system. The prospect for discovery of a neuroimaging challenge that on-scalp MEG uniquely solves is likely to push development further and possibly initiate utilization to a similar-or larger-scale as conventional MEG has reached today. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. All rights are reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Co-registration

Crosstalk

Flexible sensor array

High-Tc SQUID

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Magnetometer

MEG system

Multichannel

On-scalp MEG

Optically pumped magnetometer (OPM)

Shielding

Spatial resolution

Spatial sampling

Standoff

Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kap (subject category)