Test-retest reliability of the human connectome: An OPM-MEG study

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biophysics
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Magnetoencephalography with optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG) presents a significant advancement over conventional MEG.
• Key advantages include adaptability, subject mobility, enhanced signal amplitude, and elimination of cryogenics.
• Optimal OPM-MEG system design requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an open-source dataset from a novel OPM-MEG system.
• To assess the test-retest reliability of functional brain connectivity using OPM-MEG.
• To evaluate the robustness of OPM-MEG for characterizing human connectomes.

Main Methods:

• Acquisition of an open-source dataset using a new 168-channel OPM-MEG system with triaxial sensors.
• Implementation of OPM-optimized magnetic shielding and active background field control.
• Measurement of test-retest reliability of whole-brain functional connectivity via amplitude envelope correlation in 10 participants watching a video clip.

Main Results:

• High repeatability of functional connectivity was observed at the group level across frequency bands (θ: 0.81, α: 0.93, β: 0.94).
• Individual subject analysis revealed significant inter-subject variability but high intra-subject robustness (α: 0.56 ± 0.25, θ: 0.72 ± 0.15, β: 0.78 ± 0.13).
• Results demonstrate comparable reliability to conventional MEG.

Conclusions:

• The novel OPM-MEG system demonstrates high test-retest reliability for functional connectivity analysis.
• OPM-MEG is a viable and robust technology for characterizing human brain connectomes.
• The open-source dataset facilitates further research in OPM-MEG system design and application.