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Characterization of an Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM) Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Array

Who can join

Ages 18 to 70 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
3. Male or female, aged 18-70
4. In good general health as evaluated according to protocol 17-M-0181
5. Completed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan under 17-M-0181

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

1. Participants excluded from 17-M-0181 will be excluded from this protocol
2. Metal in the body which would cause artifacts on MEG recordings

About the study

Background:

Brain activity produces magnetic fields. These fields can be measured outside the head. Existing technology, called MEG, measures these fields. Researchers are testing a new type of magnetic field sensor called OPM. They hope it can help pinpoint with very high accuracy where brain activity is generated.

Objective:

To develop and test a new type of sensor for measuring the magnetic fields produced by brain activity.

Eligibility:

Healthy people ages 18-70 who had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan under protocol 17-M-0181.

Design:

Participants may be asked to complete sessions on both the traditional MEG instrument and the OPM array.

For the MEG, 3-6 small coils will be placed on the participant s face with tape. Their head will be positioned inside the MEG device.

For the OPM, sensors are housed in a 3d printed array. The sensors will be attached to a cap placed on the participant s head.

For both scans, participants will be seated in a chair inside a magnetically shielded room. They may complete several tasks. In one task, plastic cells will be placed on their fingers. Puffs of air will be sent to these cells, which will stimulate the sense of touch. Other tasks may include the following stimuli: visual (such as checkerboards), auditory (such as beeps and tones), or language (words and letters).

Researchers may also obtain recordings while they stimulate the nerve in the participant s forearm using electrical current in small electrodes.

Participation is expected to last for 1 day. Additional optional scans may be offered for up to 1 year....

What is being tested

• SQUID MEG (device)
• OPM MEG (device)

Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · Participants: 100 · Started: May 12, 2022

Contact the study team

• Anna M Namyst · Phone: (301) 402-2445
• Allison C Nugent, Ph.D. · Phone: (301) 451-8863

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT04950309

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.