Recent research using advanced wearable brain scanners has significantly advanced our understanding of children’s brain development, linking key milestones like walking and talking to brain activity while also exploring neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Led by scientists from the University of Nottingham, the study utilized a novel magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner, which can measure brain activity in children as young as two years old. This technology employs optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) integrated into a lightweight helmet, allowing close proximity to the head for better data quality and enabling movement during scanning.
The study involved 27 children and 26 adults, focusing on neural oscillations—brainwaves that facilitate communication across different brain regions. Researchers aimed to understand how these networks emerged throughout development. The research highlights the potential for the wearable system to study brain function in young children, especially during crucial developmental milestones. This groundbreaking work is expected to foster clinical research on childhood disorders, particularly autism, by providing insights into both typical and atypical brain development. This study stands as a pioneering effort in using wearable MEG technology to investigate the neurodevelopmental trajectories in children.
