Non-invasive single-trial monitoring of human movement-related brain activation based on DC-magnetoencephalography

Neuroreport. 2001 Jun 13;12(8):1689-92. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200106130-00034.

Abstract

Neuroimaging techniques, such as fMRI, PET and near-infrared spectroscopy, monitor task-related neuronal activations in the brain indirectly through the associated neurovascular/metabolic responses. To assess the primary neuronal activations directly, magnetoencephalography was combined here with a mechanical modulation of the head-to-sensor position and signal separation via independent component analysis. In all of five subjects this approach allowed to monitor the time evolution of DC fields (<0.1 Hz) over the left hemisphere related to complex finger movements of the right hand alternating with rest periods (30 s each). Throughout the recording period of 30 min, stable task-related DC fields were recordable in a single-trial mode, i.e. without any averaging. DC-MEG opens up the possibility of analysing non-invasively cortical DC-activity also in stroke, migraine or epilepsy patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Female
  • Fingers / physiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetoencephalography*
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods*
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiology