OPM MEG Brain Activity Mapping

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Allison Nugent, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Disqualifiers: Metal in body, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing a new sensor called OPM that measures brain activity by detecting magnetic fields. These sensors can be placed directly on the scalp and offer advantages over traditional methods. It targets healthy adults aged 18-65 who have had an MRI scan. The sensors are placed on a cap and can accurately measure the brain's magnetic fields.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment OPM MEG?

Research shows that OPM MEG systems can capture high-quality brain signals with improved sensitivity and spatial resolution compared to traditional methods. Studies have demonstrated that OPM MEG can accurately pinpoint brain activity with minimal spatial discrepancy, even in challenging environments, suggesting its potential effectiveness in brain mapping. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is OPM MEG safe for use in humans?

The research on OPM MEG (Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography) suggests it is generally safe for use in humans. Studies have shown that OPM MEG systems can operate effectively in various environments, and they do not require the use of liquid helium, which is needed for traditional MEG systems, making them safer and more flexible. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

How does the OPM MEG Brain Activity Mapping treatment differ from other treatments for brain activity mapping?

The OPM MEG Brain Activity Mapping treatment is unique because it uses optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) instead of traditional superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). OPMs do not require cryogenic cooling, allowing them to be placed closer to the scalp, which can improve the accuracy and comfort of brain activity mapping. ^{1 2 3 7 9}

Research Team

Allison Nugent, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Eligibility Criteria

Healthy adults aged 18-65 who've had an MRI scan under a specific protocol can join this study. They should be in good health, able to follow the study's procedures, and available for its duration. People with metal in their body that affects MEG recordings cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Provision of signed and dated informed consent form

Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study

In good general health as evaluated according to protocol 17-M-0181

Exclusion Criteria

Participants excluded from 17-M-0181 will be excluded from this protocol

Metal in the body which would cause artifacts on MEG recordings

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

Testing

Participants undergo testing with both the traditional MEG instrument and the OPM array, including various sensory tasks and nerve stimulation.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Optional Follow-up

Additional optional scans may be offered to participants for further testing and data collection.

up to 1 year

Treatment Details

Interventions

• OPM MEG (Device)
• SQUID MEG (Device)

Trial Overview The trial is testing a new brain activity sensor called OPM against the traditional SQUID MEG. Participants will wear special equipment on their head and complete tasks involving touch, sight, sound, or language stimuli while magnetic fields are measured.

Participant Groups

Group I: OPM Array studies Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Testing of a final 49-61 channel OPM MEG system and any interim arrays

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Bethesda, MD

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Joshua A. Gordon

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Director since 2016

MD, PhD

Shelli Avenevoli

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Acting Director

PhD

Findings from Research

The new artifact reduction method called frequency specific signal space classification (FSSSC) significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio in magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings using optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), enhancing the accuracy of source localization.

FSSSC effectively removes artifacts from MEG recordings, allowing for clearer detection of auditory evoked magnetic fields in human subjects, which is crucial for advancing brain research and making OPMs a viable alternative to traditional MEG systems.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Spatial and Frequency Specific Artifact Reduction in Optically Pumped Magnetometer Recordings. Xiang, J., Tong, H., Jiang, Y., et al.[2023]

The optically-pumped magnetometer (OPM) MEG system can effectively detect alpha rhythm changes in response to light stimulation, demonstrating comparable sensitivity to traditional SQUID-based MEG systems.

This new OPM-MEG technology allows sensors to be placed much closer to the scalp (less than 1 cm), improving detection efficiency and potentially offering a more practical alternative to conventional MEG systems that rely on liquid helium.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Detection and analysis of MEG signals in occipital region with double-channel OPM sensors. Zhang, X., Chen, CQ., Zhang, MK., et al.[2021]

Optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) could significantly enhance magnetoencephalography (MEG) by improving sensitivity, achieving a fivefold increase compared to traditional superconducting systems, which is crucial for better brain function assessment.

The effectiveness of OPM systems relies heavily on accurate forward models; their advantage over superconducting systems is only realized when the forward field error is kept below 5%, highlighting the need for improved modeling techniques alongside hardware advancements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

On the Potential of a New Generation of Magnetometers for MEG: A Beamformer Simulation Study. Boto, E., Bowtell, R., Krüger, P., et al.[2022]

The study demonstrates that optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) used in magnetoencephalography (MEG) can achieve comparable data quality in different magnetic environments, including a city center hospital and a university site, despite significant differences in background interference.

With effective dynamic field control and software suppression techniques, OPM-MEG can be reliably used in various settings, expanding its potential applications in neuroscience and clinical research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using OPM-MEG in contrasting magnetic environments. Hill, RM., Devasagayam, J., Holmes, N., et al.[2022]

Optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) can significantly improve magnetoencephalography (MEG) by providing a wearable system that allows for movement during scanning, but head movement can still create significant data artefacts.

A new magnetic field mapping technique was developed to compensate for these artefacts, resulting in a five-fold reduction in motion interference, which enhances the quality of MEG data, particularly for low-frequency measurements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Precision magnetic field modelling and control for wearable magnetoencephalography. Rea, M., Holmes, N., Hill, RM., et al.[2022]

Miniature optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) can effectively detect brain activity related to auditory stimuli, showing performance comparable to traditional superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) used in magnetoencephalography (MEG).

OPMs do not require cryogenic cooling and can be placed closer to the scalp, which enhances their usability for functional neuroimaging and potential brain-computer interface applications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Detection of the 40 Hz auditory steady-state response with optically pumped magnetometers. An, KM., Shim, JH., Kwon, H., et al.[2023]

References

1. Singapore pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Spatial and Frequency Specific Artifact Reduction in Optically Pumped Magnetometer Recordings. [2023]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrated full-head OPM-MEG system based on 128 zero-field sensors. [2023]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Detection and analysis of MEG signals in occipital region with double-channel OPM sensors. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

On the Potential of a New Generation of Magnetometers for MEG: A Beamformer Simulation Study. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using OPM-MEG in contrasting magnetic environments. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Precision magnetic field modelling and control for wearable magnetoencephalography. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing crosstalk in optically-pumped magnetometer arrays. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A high-performance compact magnetic shield for optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography. [2019]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Detection of the 40 Hz auditory steady-state response with optically pumped magnetometers. [2023]