Objective
To date, neuroimaging has provided a wealth of information on how the human brain works in health and disease. With functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we can obtain spatially precise information about long-lasting brain activations whereas electro- and magnetoencephalography (EEG/MEG) can track transient cortical responses at millisecond resolution. However, none of these methods excel in time-resolved detection of sustained cortical activations, which are typically reflected as bursts of gamma-range (30–150 Hz) oscillations, frequently present in invasive recordings in patients. Although we have recently demonstrated that in exceptional situations MEG can detect even single gamma responses, their signal-to-noise ratio is usually prohibitively low, largely due to the substantial distance (4–5 cm) between cortex and sensors. Here, I propose to exploit recent advances in a novel magnetic sensor technology—atomic magnetometry—to construct a new kind of MEG system that allows capturing cerebral magnetic fields within millimetres from the scalp. Our simulations show that this proximity leads up to a 5-fold increase in the signal amplitude and an order-of-magnitude improvement of spatial resolution compared to conventional MEG. Therefore, a high-resolution MEG (HRMEG) system based on atomic magnetometers should enable non-invasive recordings of cortical activity at unprecedented sensitivity and detail level, which I propose to capitalize on by characterizing cortical responses, particularly gamma oscillations, during complex cognitive tasks. Additionally, since atomic magnetometers can recover within milliseconds from fields of several tesla, I also propose to combine transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with MEG, leveraging the reciprocity of TMS and MEG and thus allowing better-than-ever characterization of TMS-evoked responses. This proposal comprises the research towards a HRMEG system and its application to study the working human brain in a new way.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- engineering and technology medical engineering diagnostic imaging magnetic resonance imaging
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2015-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
02150 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.