Effect of Skull Resistivity on the Relative Sensitivity Distributions of EEG and MEG Measurements

Abstract

The authors have previously published calculations that show that, despite the high resistivity of the skull, the spatial sensitivity of magnetoencephalography, MEG, is no better than that of electroencephalography, EEG. The results were based on the widely used Rush-Driscoll head model, according to which skull resistivity is considered to be 80 times that of the brain and scalp. Recent research indicates that skull resistivity is only about 15 times that of the brain and scalp. Calculations of EEG sensitivity distributions with this value show that EEG has considerably better spatial resolution than MEG. Since clinical recordings are not in conflict with such a result, the conclusion can be considered reliable. The finding supports the use of high-resolution EEG as a research and clinical tool in recording the electrical activity of the brain.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 25, 2001
Accession Number
ADA410772

Entities

People

  • J. A. Malmivuo
  • V. Suihko

Organizations

  • Tampere University of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Brain
  • Classification
  • Conductivity
  • Electrodes
  • Electroencephalography
  • Gradiometers
  • Health Services
  • High Resolution
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetometers
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Research
  • Neurology
  • Sensitivity

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Neuroscience
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics