Magnetoencephalography in human neuroscience research: planning, piloting, implementation and quality assurance

The high spatiotemporal resolution of noninvasive magnetoencephalographic (MEG) functional brain imaging provides a rich portrayal of brain network dynamics and enhances its versatility in neuroscience and beyond. However, MEG is notably less used in research settings relative to other neuroimaging modalities such as functional MRI. Here we describe a protocol for integrating MEG into research studies, using the Dallas Hearts and Minds Study (DHMS) as an illustrative example. Existing resources on MEG research best practices have restricted focus to primarily data acquisition, processing and analysis steps. We extend upon these works by outlining strategies for four stages of MEG research: (1) planning, (2) piloting, (3) implementing the procedure and (4) maintaining quality assurance. In doing so, we describe methodological considerations that enhance MEG procedure efficiency, align MEG implementation with research goals, improve data quality, reduce participant burden and optimize the financial resources needed. We also discuss the special considerations appropriate for large, multidisciplinary, population-based studies. We include an analysis of the DHMS MEG pilot data and results, providing example data on a publicly available repository ( https://git.biohpc.swmed.edu/ansir/utsw-meg-study-repository ), and collate many other resources to facilitate adaptation of the protocol. This resource aims to support trainees, researchers and clinician scientists in deploying MEG effectively and encourage its broader use in diverse research settings. The MEG experimental procedure used in the DHMS (stage 3) requires ~2 h, and DHMS pilot and main study data acquisition spanned ~5 years. The entire protocol requires multiple months to years depending on study size.