magnetoencephalography
Pronunciation: mag-NEE-toh-en-SEF-ah-LOG-rah-fee
Also written as: MEG — magnetoencephalography
Non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain.
Full Definition
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a functional neuroimaging technique that records magnetic fields generated by neuronal electrical currents in the brain. Unlike EEG, which measures electrical activity directly, MEG detects the magnetic fields produced by this activity, offering superior spatial resolution and the ability to localize brain activity more precisely. MEG is particularly valuable in presurgical planning for epilepsy patients and in research studying normal brain function. The technique requires a magnetically shielded room and specialized superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for detection.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out on first use in patient reports; commonly abbreviated as MEG in subsequent references.
In Context
- "The magnetoencephalography study revealed abnormal magnetic dipoles in the temporal region." — Neurological assessment report
- "MEG source localization was performed to identify the seizure onset zone." — Presurgical evaluation