Research topics
The MEG lab in Nottingham opened in 2007, and our research spans everything from the development of new MEG hardware to clinical application in mental health. Our current research includes:
- Source localisation algorithms, in particular the use of novel statistical approaches and adaptive beamformer techniques
- New methods to measure connectivity between spatially separate brain regions and techniques to track the dynamics of neural networks
- Multi-modal neuroimaging, relating electrophysiology to quantitative markers of brain microstructure, neurochemistry and haemodynamics
- The modulation of neural oscillations by sensory and cognitive tasks and the characterisation of their role in mediating long range connectivity
- Biophysically informed mathematical models of neural systems, and their relationship with empirical MEG data
- The spatiotemporal signatures of neural networks in the somatosensory system, and their perturbation in disorders such as focal hand dystonia
- Abnormalities of neural networks and their dynamics in mental health disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders
- Development of novel quantum magnetic field sensors and their application in “wearable” brain imaging systems
- Changes in neural network oscillations and dynamics throughout neurodevelopment and the relationship to behaviour
Research facilities and equipment
The MEG lab in Nottingham is equipped with a 275 channel CTF axial gradiometer MEG system, installed in 2007 and upgraded with new electronics and real time capabilities in 2017. In addition, we are in the process of building a novel 20 channel Optically Pumped Magnetometer MEG system. Both are located in a magnetically shielded room. Visual stimuli are provided by a PROPixx projection system (VPixx) and eye tracking can be performed using an EyeLink 1000 Plus eye-tracker (SR Research).
Location
The MEG laboratory at the University of Nottingham is part of the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (SPMIC). More information about SPMIC is available at the following link: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/spmic.