The University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) has purchased Elekta Neuromag®, a device for non-invasive measurement of brain activity using Magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology. Completely non-invasive and painless, MEG is a powerful tool used for studying normal brain function, as well as brain disorders, such as epilepsy and autism.

Based in Seattle, I-LABS conducts early childhood learning and brain development research. With a goal of becoming the world’s foremost generator of early learning and development research, the scientists at the Institute believe that the study of the developing brain is the next great research frontier.

Patricia K. Kuhl, Ph.D., is the Co-Director of I-LABS. “In April 2008, the Institute was awarded a four million dollar grant from the Washington State Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF). With this grant, we were able to fund the purchase of an Elekta Neuromag system,” says Kuhl. “Even more exciting, the MEG system will serve as the focal point of our new Child Brain Imaging Center – a first of its kind not only in the U.S., but the entire world.”

I-LABS has been utilizing MEG technology at collaborator’s institutes for the past several years; however the organization will receive their own system in early 2010, allowing the researchers to record brain activity in infants and children more extensively than before.

“The Child Brain Imaging Center will be unique in the nation by providing the only whole-head non-invasive, noiseless, and completely safe brain imaging technique for use with children aged 0-5”, says Kuhl. “MEG can be used with people of all ages, but I-LABS’ recent demonstration that it can be used to study awake children 0-5 years old (Imada et al., 2006) will advance scientific understanding of early learning and brain development.”

“With our long-term commitment to the development of MEG technology and applications, Elekta always is pleased when a site is interested in exploring new research avenues with Elekta Neuromag,” says Stephen Otto, Chairman of Elekta’s Neuromag business. “We will continue to develop new features and technological advances so organizations like I-LABS can remain at the forefront of neuroscience research.”

For the latest Elekta Neuromag MEG news, visit elekta.com/MEG.