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Magnetoencephalography and Magnetic Source Modeling

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Epilepsy Board Review

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Abstract

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a technique for recording weak magnetic fields generated by electrical activity within the brain. These neuromagnetic signals are generated by the same processes that give rise to EEG signals. However, the recording of these signals requires specialized sensors operating at very low temperatures within magnetically shielded environments. MEG systems used for clinical studies allow multichannel recordings from a few hundred sensors located around the head. Several source modeling techniques are available to localize the intracranial generators of the recorded activity. In patients with epilepsy, MEG together with magnetic source modeling can help localize the sources of spontaneous epileptic activity and ictal discharges. MEG can also be used to localize the generators of evoked responses to somatosensory, visual, auditory, motor, and language stimuli, making it a powerful noninvasive tool for mapping functional cortices. This chapter provides an overview of MEG and its place in presurgical evaluations for epilepsy surgery.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Froedtert West, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Manoj Raghavan

Authors
  1. Manoj Raghavan
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Correspondence to Manoj Raghavan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Director, Epilepsy Center, George Washington University Director, Epilepsy Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Mohamad Z. Koubeissi

  2. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Intra-operative Neuro-monitoring Program Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

    Nabil J. Azar

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Raghavan, M. (2017). Magnetoencephalography and Magnetic Source Modeling. In: Koubeissi, M., Azar, N. (eds) Epilepsy Board Review. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6774-2_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6774-2_23

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6772-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6774-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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