Magnetoencephalography

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is an invaluable functional brain imaging technique that provides direct, real-time monitoring of neuronal activity necessary for gaining insight into dynamic cortical networks. This handbook covers the rich and transdisciplinary nature of the MEG field. The underlying motivation for this book was to make this diverse and extensive collection of chapters available to both newcomers and experienced researchers with the hope of stimulating growth in the MEG area. 

The book is a comprehensive knowledge base of MEG basics along with the latest developments in methodological, empirical and clinical research, directed toward masters and doctoral students, as well as researchers already in the field. The topics range from neuromagnetic measurements, signal processing and source localization techniques to dynamic functional networks underlying perception and cognition in both health and disease. Topical reviews cover, among others: development on SQUID-based and novel sensors, multi-modal integration (low field MRI and MEG; EEG and fMRI), Bayesian approaches to multi-modal integration, direct neuronal imaging, novel noise reduction methods, source-space functional analysis, decoding of brain states, dynamic brain connectivity, sensory-motor integration, MEG studies on perception and cognition, thalamocortical oscillations, fetal and neonatal MEG, pediatric MEG studies, cognitive development, clinical applications of MEG in epilepsy, pre-surgical mapping, stroke, schizophrenia, stuttering, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, autism, aging and neurodegeneration, MEG applications in cognitive neuropharmacology, along with an overview of major open-source analysis tools.

The 2nd edition, which is now presented as a Springer Reference, has 9 sections compared to 5 in the first edition and includes a total of 61 chapters. It provides more in-depth tutorials on MEG as an enabling tool in neuroscienceand on linear source estimation and spatial filtering approaches.  A set of 11 new chapters and 20 updated chapters cover, among others, new topics such as simultaneous MEG and intracerebral EEG recordings, MEG studies on time processing and temporal cognition, open source MNE software, presurgical localization of language, emerging zero helium boil-off MEG technologies and provides updates on novel multi-modal fusion and related modeling approaches, open source analysis packages, neural decoding and MEG Brain Computer Interface, organizational cognitive neuroscience as well as developmental studies and clinical applications. In the last two years significant advances have been made in the field of novel sensor development, particularly for optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) which are leading the way to a new generation of wearable MEG systems. Included in this new edition is a new chapter covering the topic of “on-scalp” MEG and an updated chapter on OPMs.

The book was edited by a board of internationally renowned scientists serving as Section Editors:

Part I: MEG Tutorials: Seppo Ahlfors                  

Part II: Source Analysis and Multi-modal Integration: Selma Supek and Cheryl J. Aine

Part III: Open Source Analysis Packages: Alexandre Gramfort

Part IV: Functional Connectivity and Oscillatory Activity: Matthew Brooks

Part V: Neurodevelopment Across Lifespan: Julia M. Stephen

Part VI: Sensory and Cognitive Studies: Catherine Tallon-Baudry

Part VII: Clinical Application and Translational Studies: Nobukazu Nakasato

Part VIII: Novel Brain Research Topics: Lauri Parkkonen

Part IX: Emerging Technologies: Risto Ilmoniemi

   

Dr. Selma Supek obtained her degrees in physics. She entered the field of functional brain imaging using MEG during her doctoral research in the Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory – LANL (1988–1993). After returning to Zagreb, Croatia, she continued collaborations with MEG/EEG laboratories at LANL and Mind Research Network and established new ones at ITAB in Chieti, HUCH BioMag Laboratory, Aalto University, University of Heidelberg, TU Ilmenau, and University of Jena. Research interests of Selma Supek include retinotopic organization of the visual cortex, spatiotemporal resolution of MEG, face processing, cognitive neurodynamics, auditory processing, and translational and educational neuroscience. She introduced functional brain imaging methods, in particular MEG, in Croatia both in research and education programs at diploma and doctoral levels. Selma Supek founded a series of intensive international graduate courses MIND AND BRAIN (www.brain.com.hr) within the academic program of the Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik, and cofounded and codirected the first interdisciplinary international postgraduate program “Language Communication and Cognitive Neuroscience” of the University of Zagreb. She organized and chaired Biomag 2010 (www.biomag2010.org) and serves as a permanent member of the International Advisory Board for Biomag conferences which she chaired in 2010–2012.

Dr. Cheryl Aine has more than 30 years of research experience in the neuroimaging field (e.g., ERPs, MEG, fMRI, DTI, PET, Xenon-133 for imaging rCBF). She is most noted for her work using MEG and has served in several leadership positions (e.g., Deputy Group Leader in the Physics Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Director of the MEG groups at the Veterans Affairs, the MIND Institute (currently the Mind Research Network), and the University of New Mexico Department of Radiology in Albuquerque, New Mexico). Her research interests have ranged from basic vision (e.g., retinotopic organization of human visual cortex and visual selective attention), use of simulated data to validate analysis methods, and studies of cognitive decline in clinical populations (e.g., normal aging, mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia).