Investigating the Use of Optically Pumped Magnetometers in Conjunction with Electrical Impedance Tomography to Image Brain Activity

1)简要描述研究背景，包括潜在影响目前电阻抗断层扫描(EIT)具有利用硬膜下电极成像快速神经活动的潜力。该项目旨在使用光泵磁力计(OPM)来测量当电场施加到头皮时所产生的磁场变化，并利用这些信息来成像大脑活动。2)目的和目标--具体目标是：对头顶电刺激产生的磁场进行计算建模。在精确的人头有限元模型中计算重建扰动的图像。使用上述技术进行实验以尝试并成像充满盐水的水箱中的物体。在大鼠身上进行实验以尝试并成像脑活动。在人类身上进行实验以尝试并成像脑活动。开发、设计和制造功能性脑成像设备。3)研究方法的新颖性将OPMS用于快速神经EIT将提供一种非侵入性地成像大脑中的电路的方法。目前，该方法需要颅内电极。4)与EPSRC的战略和研究领域保持一致：医疗技术：通过有效的诊断、针对患者的预测和基于证据的干预来优化医疗。如果成功，这将为在毫秒内成像大脑回路活动提供一种新的范式转换方法。这将对癫痫和其他神经和精神疾病的诊断和治疗产生直接影响，如抑郁症。5)任何公司或合作者都没有直接参与。作为伦敦大学学院的一个分支，CyQiq有限公司正在支持一个案例学生，让一名生理学家也在这个项目中测试开发的技术。

1) Brief description of the context of the research including potential impactCurrently electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has the potential to image fast neural activity using subdural electrodes. This project aims to use optically pumped magnetometers (OPMS) to measure the change in magnetic field induced when an electric field is applied to the scalp and use this information to image brain activity. 2) Aims and Objectives -The specific objectives are to:Computationally model the magnetic field produced from electric stimulation on the scalp.Computationally reconstruct images of perturbations in accurate FEM models of the human head.Perform experiments to try and image objects in saline filled tanks using the aforementioned technique.Perform experiments on rats to try and image brain activity.Perform experiments on humans to try and image brain activity.Develop, design and build functioning brain imaging apparatus.3) Novelty of Research MethodologyUse of OPMs in fast neural EIT would provide a means to image circuits in the brain non-invasively. At present, the method requires intracranial electrodes.4) Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areasHealthcare technologies : Optimising care through effective diagnosis, patient-specific prediction and evidence-based intervention. If successful, this will offer a paradigm shifting new method for imaging brain circuit activity over millseconds. This will have direct implications in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and other neurological and psychiatric disease such as depression.5) Any companies or collaborators involvedNil direct. A UCL spinout, Cyqiq Ltd is supporting a CASE studentship for a physiologist to work also on this project in testing developed technology.