Magnetoencephalography (MEG) explained! | Neuroscience Methods 101

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) picks up signals from synchronously firing neurons, resulting in an oscillating signal.

Similar to electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography, or MEG, picks up the activity from neurons that fire in synchrony. Since neuronse communicate through action potentials, there is a constant influx and outflux of electrically charged particles. When a group of neurons is active together this electrical charge is large enough to be picked up. With EEG this electrical charge is measured directly at the scalp. However, with MEG the magnetic component of this electrical charge is measured. At the MEG sensors (superconducting quantum interference devices, SQUID), this magnetic signal is translated back to an electrical signal, resulting in similar brain waves as can be seen with EEG.

EEG and MEG pick up similar neurophysiological processes, but they are not the same. MEG picks up signals mainly from sulcul walls. Furthermore, since MEG signals are not distorted by the skull, MEG has a much greater spatial resolution. In other words, MEG is better at locating where a signal comes from. However, this advantage comes with a cost. MEG is more expensive than EEG.

References/Resources:
Baillet, S. (2017). Magnetoencephalography for brain electrophysiology and imaging. Nat Neurosci 20, 327–339. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4504

Supek, S., Aine, C. J. (2014). Magnetoencephalography. From signals to dynamic cortical networks. SpringerLink, New York.

Narrated by: Miles Wischnewski

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