The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has recently acquired a new magnetoencephalography (MEG) machine to advance research and clinical care. UAB was one of the first medical centers in the country to have a MEG machine back in 2001, but the need for upgrading technology has prompted the acquisition of a new one.
The MEG technology is important for analyzing the function of the brain’s nerve cells by measuring magnetic fields. It helps in localizing brain abnormalities in diseases like epilepsy and provides insight into normal brain functions like speaking, hearing, and seeing. The non-invasive nature of the MEG minimizes risks to patients, allowing for recordings across different age groups with high-time resolution.
The new MEG machine provides greater coverage of brain activity, leading to more accurate information and precise localization. This is beneficial for epilepsy surgeries, as surgeons can use MEG results to determine the location of brain seizures. Additionally, the technology has implications for functional brain mapping to localize areas important for language, sensory, and motor functions.
The implementation of the new MEG at UAB will enhance research opportunities and provide translational findings to improve patient care. Researchers hope to use MEG scans to expand knowledge of the brain and study various conditions like traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease. The acquisition of this new technology represents a significant step forward in neuroscientific research and clinical care at UAB.
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Photo credit www.uab.edu
