Tracking the neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations with optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography

Rier, Lukas; Rhodes, Natalie; Pakenham, Daisie O; Boto, Elena; Holmes, Niall; Hill, Ryan M; Reina Rivero, Gonzalo; Shah, Vishal; Doyle, Cody; Osborne, James; Bowtell, Richard W; Taylor, Margot; Brookes, Matthew J

Abstract

Neural oscillations mediate the coordination of activity within and between brain networks, supporting cognition and behaviour. How these processes develop throughout childhood is not only an important neuroscientific question but could also shed light on the mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, measuring the neurodevelopmental trajectory of oscillations has been hampered by confounds from instrumentation. In this paper, we investigate the suitability of a disruptive new imaging platform – optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) – to study oscillations during brain development. We show how a unique 192-channel OPM-MEG device, which is adaptable to head size and robust to participant movement, can be used to collect high-fidelity electrophysiological data in individuals aged between 2 and 34 years. Data were collected during a somatosensory task, and we measured both stimulus-induced modulation of beta oscillations in sensory cortex, and whole-brain connectivity, showing that both modulate significantly with age. Moreover, we show that pan-spectral bursts of electrophysiological activity drive task-induced beta modulation, and that their probability of occurrence and spectral content change with age. Our results offer new insights into the developmental trajectory of beta oscillations and provide clear evidence that OPM-MEG is an ideal platform for studying electrophysiology in neurodevelopment.

Citation

Rier, L., Rhodes, N., Pakenham, D. O., Boto, E., Holmes, N., Hill, R. M., Reina Rivero, G., Shah, V., Doyle, C., Osborne, J., Bowtell, R. W., Taylor, M., & Brookes, M. J. (2024). Tracking the neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations with optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography. eLife, 13, Article RP94561. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.94561.3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 12, 2024
• Journal: eLife
• Publisher: eLife Sciences Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Article Number: RP94561
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.94561.3
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/35734932
• Publisher URL: https://elifesciences.org/articles/94561
• Additional Information: Peer review transparency: single anonymised; Peer review interaction: other reviewer(s), editor; Peer review published: review summaries, review reports, author/editor communication, reviewer identities reviewer opt in, editor identities; Post publication commenting: open (sign in with ORCID iD required)