OPM MEG Brain Activity Mapping

Overseen By Allison C Nugent, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Disqualifiers: Metal in body, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

75 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new sensor that measures the brain's magnetic fields to pinpoint brain activity more accurately. Participants will use both the traditional MEG device and the new OPM sensor (Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography), which is worn on a cap. The trial includes tasks involving touch, visual, auditory, or language stimuli to measure brain responses. Ideal candidates are healthy individuals who have already undergone a specific MRI scan and are free from metal in their body. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research in brain activity measurement technology.

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 prior data suggests that this OPM MEG is safe for measuring brain activity?

Research has shown that the new OPM MEG technology is safe and easy to tolerate. Studies have found that OPM MEG provides better data quality than older methods without requiring extreme conditions like heating, making it more comfortable and easier to use.

The sensors in OPM MEG operate at room temperature and are placed in a cap worn on the head, which is non-invasive. This means they do not enter the body. No significant unexpected medical problems have been reported in these studies related to OPM MEG use. Although this technology is still undergoing testing to ensure safety and effectiveness, current findings suggest it is promising in terms of safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the OPM MEG Brain Activity Mapping because it uses a new kind of magnetoencephalography technology that may offer more detailed brain imaging. Unlike standard SQUID MEG systems, which rely on supercooled detectors, OPM MEG uses optically pumped magnetometers that work at room temperature. This setup could make the system more portable and comfortable for patients, potentially leading to more widespread use in studying and diagnosing neurological conditions. By improving the resolution and comfort of brain scans, researchers hope to gain better insights into brain activity.

What evidence suggests that the OPM MEG is effective for brain activity mapping?

Research shows that the new OPM-MEG technology, which participants in this trial will experience, could significantly enhance the study of brain activity. Studies have found that OPM-MEG can detect brain signals in areas difficult to reach with older methods, such as the cerebellum. This technology also offers better sensitivity and spatial resolution, capturing clearer and more detailed information about brain function. Researchers are exploring its potential to identify problems in conditions like schizophrenia and epilepsy, providing insights previously unattainable. Overall, OPM-MEG may offer a more detailed understanding of brain function compared to current methods. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Allison C Nugent, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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

Timeline for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• OPM MEG
• SQUID MEG

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: OPM Array studies Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

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

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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 HEDscan, a 128-sensor optically-pumped magnetometer (OPM) MEG system, demonstrates high performance in capturing brain signals, validated through studies with six healthy adults during auditory tests.

Results from the OPM-MEG system align well with conventional cryogenic MEG, indicating that this new technology can effectively measure brain activity with high signal amplitudes and reliability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrated full-head OPM-MEG system based on 128 zero-field sensors. Alem, O., Hughes, KJ., Buard, I., et al.[2023]

The development of a compact cylindrical shield for optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) allows for effective magnetoencephalography (MEG) without the need for expensive and bulky magnetically shielded rooms, making the technology more accessible.

Performance tests showed that the compact shield achieved lower or comparable residual magnetic fields and background noise compared to traditional systems, indicating it is a viable and cost-effective option for detecting human brain activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A high-performance compact magnetic shield for optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography. He, K., Wan, S., Sheng, J., et al.[2019]

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]

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]

A new coil design for optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) significantly reduces cross-talk between sensors, achieving less than 0.5% interference compared to 8% with traditional Helmholtz coils.

This innovative coil geometry enhances the accuracy of magnetoencephalography (MEG) by maintaining over 94% magnetic field homogeneity, making it suitable for high-density sensor applications in bio-magnetic imaging.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing crosstalk in optically-pumped magnetometer arrays. Nardelli, NV., Krzyzewski, SP., Knappe, SA.[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]

Citations

1. brainbox-neuro.com brainbox-neuro.com/techniques/meg

OPM-MEG (Magnetoencephalography) - Brainbox OPM-MEG is a developing technology that has the potential to offer neuroscientists a noninvasive, one-of-a-kind window into brain function.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925001843

Facilitating cognitive neuroscience research with 80- ... Additionally, OPM-MEG has been shown to detect signals from brain regions that are difficult to access with SQUID-MEG, like the cerebellum and ...

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41398-024-03047-y

Applications of OPM-MEG for translational neuroscience We suggest novel applications of OPM-MEG for the identification of biomarkers and circuit deficits in schizophrenia, dementias, movement disorders, epilepsy, ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10465236/

Magnetoencephalography with optically pumped ... 'OPM-MEG' has the potential to dramatically outperform the current state of the art, promising enhanced data quality (better sensitivity and spatial resolution)

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/medical-technology/articles/10.3389/fmedt.2025.1515548/full

Beyond sensitivity: what are the enabling opportunities of ... This article will highlight the challenges faced by conventional SQUID-based cryo-MEG and explore the potential avenues for OPM-MEG to make a positive impact.

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166223622001023

Review Magnetoencephalography with optically pumped ... 'OPM-MEG' has the potential to dramatically outperform the current state of the art, promising enhanced data quality (better sensitivity and spatial resolution)

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12006120/

A fully integrated whole-head helium OPM MEG This article focuses on a new kind of OPM that uses Helium-4 gas as the sensing element, which solves some disadvantages of alkali OPMs.

8. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04950309

Characterization of an Optically Pumped Magnetometer ... Primary Objective 1: To fully characterize the performance of an OPM MEG array. Primary Objective 2: To demonstrate that the OPM system can produce somatotopic ...