Data modalities

Data collection in this study is designed to help researchers study risk factors for neurodevelopmental or neurological diseases.

Brain MRIs

We will scan your brain with a 7-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scanner.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a non-invasive technology that is very sensitive to water and iron content in the body cells. This high-field scanner can detect signals from the brain cells in great detail and produce high-resolution pictures of the brain anatomy, or maps of its functional or metabolic organization. (What to expect?)

Did you know that…

Two Nobel Prizes in Physics are given for the discovery of the MR.

In 1952, Felix Bloch and Edward Mills Purcell received the Nobel Prize in Physics, for their development of new methods for measuring nuclear magnetic resonance.

In 2003, Paul C. Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield received a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of MRI.

When you are in an MRI scanner, you can hear different “scanning rhythms”.

These “scanning rhythms” sound like MRI-Functional.m4a, MRI-Prescan.m4a and MRI-Structural.m4a. These are magnetic pulses that are tuned to the property of hydrogen atoms in different tissues. Therefore, when those cells pick their specific music, they ‘sing back’ and help us detect the chemical, anatomical and physiological properties of the whole brain. (Listen to someone who participated in a study in our centre)

A 7T MRI is stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field, but it is safe.

The Earth’s magnetic field is only 0.00005 Teslas, so a 7-Tesla scanner is significantly stronger. So far, research has not found any risk from exposure to such strong fields.

This is why it is important to ensure participants have no metallic implants, piercing or even tattoos in their body or metallic objects in their clothing (read more). You can watch a video of how strong and how safe our scanner is.

Brain Waves

Nerve cells in the brain communicate by exchanging ions across synapses. This creates a weak electrical activity that can be measured with magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG).

About MEG

About EEG

Measuring Brain’s Electromagnetic Fields

What is Magnetoencephalography (MEG)?

MEG (Magnetoencephalography) is a non-invasive technology that uses highly sensitive sensors to detect weak electromagnetic signals generated by nerve cell activity. Since 2012, The Neuro’s Neurospeed Lab has provided state-of-the-art data acquisition and analysis tools using MEG technology. Researchers utilize this technology to study brain networks during both rest and activity, advancing our understanding of brain function.

What is Electroencephalography (EEG)?

EEG is a much older technology than MEG. EEG requires putting sensitive electrodes on your scalp. EEG is less convenient but is a more portable and cheaper technology.

Why do you do both MEG and EEG?

Because EEG is portable and much more affordable, it is an important clinical tool. By collecting data from both MEG and EEG, we can compare their sensitivity to detecting brain abnormalities in health and disease.

Behaviours

Brains shape habits and habits shape brains. Different psychometric surveys and cognitive tests will help researchers find habits, traits, and behavioral resources that impact brain health across the lifespan. Most of these tests can be done using our secure online survey platform.

Blood (Optional)