magnetoencephalography
Pronunciation: mag-nee-toh-en-SEFF-uh-log-ruh-fee
Also written as: MEG — magnetoencephalography
A neuroimaging technique that measures magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain.
Full Definition
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that detects and maps brain activity by measuring the magnetic fields generated by neuronal electrical currents. Unlike EEG, which measures electrical activity directly, MEG provides superior spatial resolution and is less affected by skull and scalp tissues. It is particularly valuable in presurgical planning for epilepsy, brain mapping studies, and research into cognitive processes, offering real-time measurement of brain function with millisecond temporal resolution.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as MEG in clinical and research contexts.
In Context
- "Magnetoencephalography revealed the precise location of the epileptogenic focus prior to surgical resection." — Presurgical evaluation
- "The research team used magnetoencephalography to study language processing in real-time." — Cognitive neuroscience study