Magnetoencephalography in the study of epilepsy

A brief review is given about the basic principles of magnetoencephalography (MEG), a noninvasive brain research method in which weak magnetic fields are detected outside the human head with SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) magnetometers. The active brain areas, producing the signal, are modelled by current dipoles, which are assumed to be situated in a spherically symmetric volume conductor. The locations of these "equivalent dipoles" can be found, in the optimal case, with a precision of a few millimeters. The new multichannel magnetometers allow measurements of spontaneous brain activity without EEG-triggered averaging. The 3-dimensional locations of superficial epileptogenic foci can be determined with respect to external landmarks on the skull and to known generator areas of evoked responses in the brain. Examples are given about MEG recordings of epileptic patients.