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Characterization of an Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM) Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Array

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · NCT04950309

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–70 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
100
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
May 12, 2022
Record last updated
October 21, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Background

Brain activity produces magnetic fields. These fields can be measured outside the head. Existing technology, called MEG, measures these fields. Researchers are testing a new type of magnetic field sensor called OPM. They hope it can help pinpoint with very high accuracy where brain activity is generated.

Objective

To develop and test a new type of sensor for measuring the magnetic fields produced by brain activity.

Eligibility

Healthy people ages 18-70 who had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan under protocol 17-M-0181.

Design

Participants may be asked to complete sessions on both the traditional MEG instrument and the OPM array.

For the MEG, 3-6 small coils will be placed on the participant s face with tape. Their head will be positioned inside the MEG device.

For the OPM, sensors are housed in a 3d printed array. The sensors will be attached to a cap placed on the participant s head.

For both scans, participants will be seated in a chair inside a magnetically shielded room. They may complete several tasks. In one task, plastic cells will be placed on their fingers. Puffs of air will be sent to these cells, which will stimulate the sense of touch. Other tasks may include the following stimuli: visual (such as checkerboards), auditory (such as beeps and tones), or language (words and letters).

Researchers may also obtain recordings while they stimulate the nerve in the participant s forearm using electrical current in small electrodes.

Participation is expected to last for 1 day. Additional optional scans may be offered for up to 1 year....

Being studied: SQUID MEG; OPM MEG

Conditions: Normal Physiology

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
  • Male or female, aged 18-70
  • In good general health as evaluated according to protocol 17-M-0181
  • Completed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan under 17-M-0181

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  • Participants excluded from 17-M-0181 will be excluded from this protocol
  • Metal in the body which would cause artifacts on MEG recordings

Recruiting US locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, MD 20892

    Site contact: For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR) · 800-411-1222 · prpl@cc.nih.gov

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Anna M Namyst · (301) 402-2445 · anna.namyst@nih.gov
  • Allison C Nugent, Ph.D. · (301) 451-8863 · nugenta@mail.nih.gov
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Characterization of an Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM)… (NCT04950309) | Bored Studies