MEG imaging in young children

The human brain undergoes remarkable changes in the first few years of life, which critically affect how we develop. However, little is known about how the evolution of neural networks impacts brain function and cognitive abilities in early life. For example, the neural substrates underlying the development of pain perception and motor coordination are poorly understood. This is because tools to study the paediatric brain are critically lacking, and neuroimaging technologies - developed for adults - do not account for fundamental features of the paediatric brain, such as the dramatic variation is head size or the range of subject motion.

In collaboration with Nottingham University and UCL we are  developing a novel neuroimaging system that is designed specifically for children. This new magnetoencephalography (MEG) system will allow children to move freely and perform natural tasks while capturing brain activity with unparalleled sensitivity and spatial accuracy, offering a step change in the way neurodevelopment can be studied.