Nordic brain researchers in cerebral function collaboration

From the 16th to the 18th of May, the international MEG Nord conference is being held at the Karolinska Institutet (KI). The venue is also the home of the organiser, NatMEG, the Swedish National Facility for Magnetoencephalography. Nordic brain researchers will be collaborating to jointly expand the boundaries of research into cerebral function.

The conference’s objective is to strengthen collaborations between Nordic brain researchers. It is hoped that their initiatives will lead to even higher resolution imaging of the brain’s work. This has the potential to increase the clinical benefit of examining epilepsy patients. It would also increase understanding of changes in brain activity patterns in neurodegenerative illnesses such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

By measuring the very small magnetic fields formed when brain cells are activated, magnetoencephalography (MEG) monitors brain activity with a unique richness of detail. The method can help researchers follow the rapid sequences of activity patterns when the brain is responding to thoughts, impressions or treatments. It is an unusual method and there is only one MEG laboratory in Sweden.