A tool for functional brain imaging with lifespan compliance

Hill, Ryan M; Boto, Elena; Holmes, Niall; Hartley, Caroline; Seedat, Zelekha A; Leggett, James; Roberts, Gillian; Shah, Vishal; Tierney, Tim M; Woolrich, Mark W; Stagg, Charlotte J; Barnes, Gareth R; Bowtell, Richard R; Slater, Rebeccah; Brookes, Matthew J

Abstract

The human brain undergoes significant functional and structural changes in the first decades of life, as the foundations for human cognition are laid down. However, non-invasive imaging techniques to investigate brain function throughout neurodevelopment are limited due to growth in head-size with age and substantial head movement in young participants. Experimental designs to probe brain function are also limited by the unnatural environment typical brain imaging systems impose. However, developments in quantum technology allowed fabrication of a new generation of wearable magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology with the potential to revolutionise electrophysiological measures of brain activity. Here we demonstrate a lifespan-compliant MEG system, showing recordings of high fidelity data in toddlers, young children, teenagers and adults. We show how this system can support new types of experimental paradigm involving naturalistic learning. This work reveals a new approach to functional imaging, providing a robust platform for investigation of neurodevelopment in health and disease.

Citation

Hill, R. M., Boto, E., Holmes, N., Hartley, C., Seedat, Z. A., Leggett, J., Roberts, G., Shah, V., Tierney, T. M., Woolrich, M. W., Stagg, C. J., Barnes, G. R., Bowtell, R. R., Slater, R., & Brookes, M. J. (2019). A tool for functional brain imaging with lifespan compliance. Nature Communications, 10, Article 4785. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12486-x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 5, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 5, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 5, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 13, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 6, 2019
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-1723
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Article Number: 4785
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12486-x
• Keywords: General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; General Physics and Astronomy; General Chemistry
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2612053
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12486-x
• Additional Information: Received: 4 December 2018; Accepted: 5 September 2019; First Online: 5 November 2019; Change Date: 4 December 2019; Change Type: Correction; Change Details: An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.; : V.S. is the founding director of QuSpin, the commercial entity selling OPM magnetometers. QuSpin built the sensors used here and advised on the system design and operation, but played no part in the subsequent measurements or data analysis. This work was funded by a Wellcome award which involves a collaboration agreement with QuSpin. All other authors declare no competing interests.
• Contract Date: Nov 6, 2019