Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers

Abstract Passive and task-based MEG responses have been extensively studied in clinical populations to identify signatures that could serve as markers for clinical diagnosis or to monitor progression of treatment. Establishing the reliability of these responses across repeat testing as a benchmark i...

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Main Authors: Natalie Rhodes, Julian Bandhan, Marlee M. Vandewouw, Sebastian C. Coleman, Margot J. Taylor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12131-2
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author Natalie Rhodes
Julian Bandhan
Marlee M. Vandewouw
Sebastian C. Coleman
Margot J. Taylor
author_facet Natalie Rhodes
Julian Bandhan
Marlee M. Vandewouw
Sebastian C. Coleman
Margot J. Taylor
author_sort Natalie Rhodes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Passive and task-based MEG responses have been extensively studied in clinical populations to identify signatures that could serve as markers for clinical diagnosis or to monitor progression of treatment. Establishing the reliability of these responses across repeat testing as a benchmark is therefore essential. Emerging MEG technology using optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) promises a new era for MEG, enhancing both research capabilities and clinical applications. However, the test-retest reliability of various MEG responses measured by these new systems has not yet been characterised. In this study, we measured a range of neural responses to task and rest using a whole-head OPM-MEG system. We assessed the stability of these responses over time in five adult participants, each tested across five different days. Our findings indicated that the well-established face-sensitive M170 response shows reliable group amplitude and latency over time, with a standard deviation of only 1 ms in latency. We showed that induced responses were more variable than evoked. Passive MEG power (via movie-watching as a pseudo-resting state metric) particularly in the alpha band, demonstrated high consistency across sessions, aligning with conventional MEG literature. Our results demonstrate reliability of a range of MEG metrics and provide a benchmark for evaluating changes over successive recordings.
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spelling doaj-art-5d4a7aa488db493ca4becdcf82da4d0e2025-08-20T03:46:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-12131-2Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometersNatalie Rhodes0Julian Bandhan1Marlee M. Vandewouw2Sebastian C. Coleman3Margot J. Taylor4Diagnostic Interventional Radiology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenProgram in Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research InstituteDiagnostic Interventional Radiology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenProgram in Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research InstituteDiagnostic Interventional Radiology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenAbstract Passive and task-based MEG responses have been extensively studied in clinical populations to identify signatures that could serve as markers for clinical diagnosis or to monitor progression of treatment. Establishing the reliability of these responses across repeat testing as a benchmark is therefore essential. Emerging MEG technology using optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) promises a new era for MEG, enhancing both research capabilities and clinical applications. However, the test-retest reliability of various MEG responses measured by these new systems has not yet been characterised. In this study, we measured a range of neural responses to task and rest using a whole-head OPM-MEG system. We assessed the stability of these responses over time in five adult participants, each tested across five different days. Our findings indicated that the well-established face-sensitive M170 response shows reliable group amplitude and latency over time, with a standard deviation of only 1 ms in latency. We showed that induced responses were more variable than evoked. Passive MEG power (via movie-watching as a pseudo-resting state metric) particularly in the alpha band, demonstrated high consistency across sessions, aligning with conventional MEG literature. Our results demonstrate reliability of a range of MEG metrics and provide a benchmark for evaluating changes over successive recordings.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12131-2Evoked responseInduced responseResting-stateFunctional connectivityMagnetoencephalographyOptically pumped magnetometers
spellingShingle Natalie Rhodes
Julian Bandhan
Marlee M. Vandewouw
Sebastian C. Coleman
Margot J. Taylor
Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers
Scientific Reports
Evoked response
Induced response
Resting-state
Functional connectivity
Magnetoencephalography
Optically pumped magnetometers
title Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers
title_full Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers
title_fullStr Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers
title_short Assessing the stability of evoked, induced, and passive MEG responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers
title_sort assessing the stability of evoked induced and passive meg responses for repeat testing with optically pumped magnetometers
topic Evoked response
Induced response
Resting-state
Functional connectivity
Magnetoencephalography
Optically pumped magnetometers
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12131-2
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