Technical solutions for simultaneous MEG and SEEG recordings: towards routine clinical use

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Technology
• Epilepsy Research

Background:

• Simultaneous stereotaxic EEG (SEEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) offer complementary local and global views of brain activity.
• Technical challenges currently limit the routine clinical use of combined SEEG-MEG.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop technical solutions for high-density SEEG recording concurrently with MEG.
• To ensure the preservation of signal quality for both modalities.

Main Methods:

• Recorded 137 SEEG contacts and 248 MEG channels in an epilepsy patient.
• Utilized dedicated insertion screws and optically insulated amplifiers.
• Assessed signal quality by comparing RMS values across frequency bands to reference MEG data.

Main Results:

• Achieved excellent signal quality for both SEEG and MEG, comparable to MEG alone.
• SEEG-detected discharges involving multiple brain structures were visible on MEG.
• Spatially limited discharges were not detectable by surface MEG.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneous SEEG and whole-head MEG recording is now clinically viable.
• This facilitates methodological advancements in signal processing and understanding brain signals.
• Opens new possibilities for combined clinical analyses in epilepsy.