Intelligent Systems Research Centre Facilities

• MEG provides a direct measure of electrical activity in the brain.
• MEG has a very high temporal resolution in the order of milliseconds (ms).
• MEG also has an excellent spatial resolution and is capable of localizing sources with an accuracy of millimetres (mm).
• It is a non-invasive technique which does not require any contrast injection.
• It is comfortable for subjects/patients. Unlike MRI, MEG does not produce any noise during scanning

In clinical applications, MEG is used for pre-surgical evaluation of brain tumour, arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and epileptic focus.

In research, MEG is known to produce better localized responses in the brain as a result of a better signal-to-noise ratio compared to EEG and a more straightforward biophysical formulation. It is widely used to study cognitive processes.

Although less explored but it can be used for the development of Brain-Computer Interfaces, and an analogue to EEG applications. In this case, it can be used essentially to inform EEG about effective biomarkers and learn better about brain dynamics using more active stimulation tasks.

Our Magnetoencephalography (MEG) laboratory is equipped with the latest whole head 306 channels Elekta Neuromag MEG TRIUX system. MEG is a modern non-invasive neurophysiological technique for measuring magnetic fields generated by neuronal activities inside the brain.

The MEG activity is acquired by an array of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) placed close to the scalp which is capable of measuring magnetic fields on the femtotesla (fT) scale.  Since the signal from the brain is too weak (~ 10-13 T) compared to the ambient magnetic noise in an urban environment (~ 10-7 T), MEG needs a special shielding from external magnetic signal. For this purpose, our MEG system is housed in a magnetic shielded room (MSR) for reducing noise from the surrounding environment.

Laboratory Facilities

We offer several techniques for brain stimulation and analysis that allow us to obtain better results and guarantee a good service for both research and clinical applications. Our MEG services can be booked using our NIFBM Booking System, which will soon be made available here.

Our lab is equipped with an MEG compatible BrainCap of 128 high-quality Ag/AgCl EEG electrodes from Brain Products GmbH. Electrodes are fixed to the cap and extremely flat which makes BrainCap very comfortable for the subject (e.g. avoiding excessive pressure onto the scalp, even in sleep studies during which the subject lies on the electrodes).

All EEG electrodes are buttoned directly into the cap (total height 3.5 mm) or can be attached to the skin with washers. This device facilitates concurrent MEG-EEG recording that allows an effective measurement of the brain activity.

Earphone for Auditory stimulation

Auditory stimulation is provided using an earphone, which is especially designated for MEG applications.

The stimuli are provided using stimulation programs that are installed in the STIM computer (STIM2) outside the MSR. The stimuli are applied with high precision having an extremely small delay of less than 20 milliseconds.

Visual stimulation

Visual stimulation is provided from the STIM computer through a Panasonic projector model PT-DS12KE (placed outside the MSR) projected onto a MEG compatible Elekta screen located inside the MSR. This allows a clear representation of the different scenarios of visual stimuli tasks, while keeping the image presentation delay shorter than 50 milliseconds.

Electrical stimulation

Electrical non-harmful stimulation is provided with small foam pads to stimulate instantaneously the median nerve on the Left/Right wrist. This stimulation will cause the thumbs to twitch and a trigger which is simultaneously recorded with the MEG signal.

Motor or response pads

We also have MEG compatible motor or response pads. Volunteers/patients will be asked to finger-tap the motor pad for performing Magnetic Evoked Field (MEF) tests. These pads can also be used as a response button for cognitive tasks.

We offer high quality neuro-imaging for both clinical and brain research purposes.

We adhere to highest standards of clinical practice. Following are the main highlight of our practice:

1. MEG SQUID sensors are regularly checked for signal quality and are tuned and calibrated using phantom on a weekly basis. Also, a quick signal quality check is performed before every recording session.
2. Before the commencement of recording, MEG staff provide a briefing about the MEG characteristics, requirements for the execution of mental tasks and what patients/subjects should do and avoid during the performance of a particular study task.
3. Patients/volunteers will be thoroughly screened to check that they are suitable for the MEG recording (e.g. screening for possible metallic implant, braces, surgical aneurysm clips, etc., also for medical conditions that might disqualify them to perform certain mental tasks, while in the MEG scanner).
4. After successful screening, the subject preparation is done on a special chair or MEG compatible bed. For concurrent MEG-EEG recording, subjects need to wear a 128 EEG channels BrainCap and will undergo the same preparation as for normal EEG recording. It might take up to 1 hour for EEG preparation. We may skip this part if the study only requires MEG recording as explained next.
5. As part of the preparation for MEG recording, 4 or 5 head position indicator (HPI) coils will be attached to the subjects’ head using durapore tape. These coils allow to track head movement during the scanning. Then HPI coils and their whole head will be digitised using staylus pen in order to obtain a head shape for possible co-registration with their brain anatomical image. It might take approximately 15-30 minutes for MEG preparation and digitisation.
6. Finally, the subjects will then be taken into the MSR and sit on a MEG chair or lay down on MEG bed and their head will be placed inside the MEG helmet as close as possible to the top of the helmet surface. They will be asked to keep still and be relaxed while performing the study tasks during the recording.

SCAN i-hub houses multiple technologies for electrophysiological monitoring (multiple mobile wearable EEG headsets 1x64 channel and 2 x 32 channels EEG devices, a functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain imaging headset, ECG, HRV, pulse oximeter, GSR, and technologies for spatial computing including text, voice, gesture, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), an advanced car/flight simulator and vibrotactile stimulation suits, ultrasonic haptic interfaces and technologies that enable walking in a virtual environments (virtual treadmills) as well as a state-of-the-art Smartglass façade to adapt the room for various experimental situations and public engagement activities.

SCANi-hub research focuses on developing capacity in “post-mobile” behaviours and modalities (e.g., text, voice, gesture, Augmented Reality/Virtual reality (AR/VR), and new contexts for computing (e.g., wearable and technology everywhere) with a unique focus on wearable electrophysiology and neurotechnology integration with the latest spatial computing technology.

We were honored to welcome HRH Princess Anne to the Magee campus to officially open another new facility established at the ISRC, the Spatial Computing and Neurotechnology Innovation-Hub (SCANi-hub). The SCANi-hub builds on award-winning neurotechnology research at the ISRC and enables research in the next wave of human-computer and human-machine interaction for able-bodied and physically impaired people.

The facility sits alongside the Northern Ireland Functional Brain Mapping Facility (NIFBM) and houses multiple neurotechnologies for brain imaging, an advanced car/flight simulator, various new extended reality and spatial computing technologies, vibrotactile stimulation, ultrasonic haptic interfaces, technologies that enable walking in virtual environments (virtual treadmills) as well as a state-of-the-art Smartglass façade to adapt the room for various experimental situations and public engagement activities.

The SCANi-hub will equip the next generation of graduates and researchers with the skills and knowledge to merge bio-inspired computing and AI and SCAN technologies to address many research and industry-led challenges that help define how humans interact with technology in the future.