Characterization of an Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM) Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Array

Summary

Background:

Brain activity produces magnetic fields. These fields can be measured outside the head. Existing technology, called MEG, measures these fields. Researchers are testing a new type of magnetic field sensor called OPM. They hope it can help pinpoint with very high accuracy where brain activity is generated.

Objective:

To develop and test a new type of sensor for measuring the magnetic fields produced by brain activity.

Eligibility:

Healthy people ages 18-65 who had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan under protocol 17-M-0181.

Design:

Participants may be asked to complete sessions on both the traditional MEG instrument and the OPM array.

For the MEG, 3 small coils will be placed on the participant s face with tape. Their head will be positioned inside the MEG device.

For the OPM, sensors are housed in a 3d printed array. The sensors will be attached to a cap placed on the participant s head.

For both scans, participants will be seated in a chair inside a magnetically shielded room. They may complete several tasks. In one task, plastic cells will be placed on their fingers. Puffs of air will be sent to these cells, which will stimulate the sense of touch. Other tasks may include the following stimuli: visual (such as checkerboards), auditory (such as beeps and tones), or language (words and letters).

Researchers may also obtain recordings while they stimulate the nerve in the participant s forearm using electrical current in small electrodes.

Participation is expected to last for 1 day. Additional optional scans may be offered for up to 1 year....

Conditions

• Normal Physiology

Interventions

DEVICE

SQUID MEG

MEG recordings acquired on a standard whole brain SQUID MEG system. Stimuli will be used, including auditory, visual, or somatosensory stimuli. Language stimuli and median nerve stimulation may also be used.

DEVICE

OPM MEG

MEG recordings acquired on an investigational OPM MEG system. Stimuli will be used, including auditory, visual, or somatosensory stimuli. Language stimuli and median nerve stimulation may also be used.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  lead NIH

Principal Investigators

• Allison C Nugent, Ph.D. · National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

DEVICE_FEASIBILITY

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-05-12

Primary Completion

2026-08-01

Completion

2026-08-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations