Subject Preparation

Subject Preparation: De-metaling

Before entering the MSR (Magnetically Shielded Room) subjects must remove any metal from their person.
There are no known risks associated with MEG recordings. Although wearing metal objects while in the MSR is not harmful to the individual, bringing metallic or magnetic objects into the MSR causes interference and high noise levels in the recording. *It is recommended that subject are screened and given instructions before arriving for testing. However, if subjects arrive with metal on their clothing that can not be easily removed, they must change into scrubs, which are available for all participants in the NMR Center changing room.

Please use the MEG Screening Questionnaire when scheduling participants.

• Subjects must remove:

-Bras with metal underwires, clasps or hooks.

Note: Some sports bras may have powder coated metal connections which look and feel like plastic. You can use the metal scanner in the NMR Center changing room to check any questionable elements.

-Makeup - mascara, eye liner, eye shadow

-Clothing containing metallic shiny threads or glitter

-Metal on clothing i.e., metal buttons, snaps or trimming

-Belts

-Keys

-Watches

-Rings or other jewelry

-Coins

-Eyeglasses

-Cell phones

-Pagers

-Credit Cards

-Small metal objects such as hair pins, paper clips, safety pins, etc.

• Additionally, everyone entering the MSR must also remove their shoes or use protective booties to prevent magnetic dust from getting into the MSR.

Head Size / Fit Test

Use a tape measure and / or the mock MEG helmet to determine whether: a) the subject will fit the MEG sensor helmet/dewar; b) how much padding is needed to fill the excess space to prevent head movement and c) how high up in the dewar helmet the subject can be raised for optimal placement. The helmet/dewar will fit subjects up to about 59cm head circumference (within 98 percentile for head size).

• Determine the subject's head size by measuring the:

- Head Circumference,

- Nasion-Inion Distance and

- Preauricular Point to Preauricular Point Distance.

Head Size
Gantry Limits	Nasion-Inion	Preauricular	Circumference
MEG / EEG	≤ 40cm	≤ 40cm	≤ 59cm

Tape Measure

*Note or record measurements.

• Determine how the subject will "fit" inside the dewar helmet:

– Place the MEG "sizing" helmet along with a protective cap over the subject's head.

• Note the fit; if the helmet does not fit (with the coils on and inside the helmet) then the subject is not a good candidate for MEG; if the subject fits then note the amount of space the subject has to move his/her head.

– Insert Pearltec Head Positioning pads to restrict head movement then re-try the helmet. Please instruct the participant to inflate the positioning pads. Note: you want the helmet to be tight enough to restrict head movement but not so tight as to cause a headache.

• Determine how to place the subject's head properly - at the top the dewar helmet.

• Note how far down over the head the helmet comes as this will give you a general idea of how high up in the dewar the subject can go in order to position the subject's head at the top of the dewar (closest to the sensors at the top of the helmet) without covering the subject's eyes.

MEG Sizing Helmet-front

MEG Sizing Helmet-side

Fiducial Points / Head Coil Placements

Used for head localization (the process of locating the subject’s head in space relative to the Dewar). Used later to co-register the MRI Coordinate System with the MEG Head Coordinate System.

*If the subject has had previous digital pictures of the fiducial points retrieve images to match placement.

• Place a small black dot at 1.5cm up from the nasion (indentation between the forehead and the nose) midline. *The dot may be placed slightly higher if the nasion curvature is such that it does not allow level placement of the head coil.
• Place a small black dot below the left & right preauricular points centered at 1.5cm in front of the tragus. Measure for accuracy.
• Take a picture of these locations using the HP 715 Digital Camera. Download and print the pictures.
• Attach Small (MEG) Adhesive Washers to head localization coils.
• Attach head localization coils at the fiducial marks.
• Make sure the marks line up with the center of the head coils.
• Place tape over the cables to secure.

MEG Fiducial Head Coils

Head Coil Locations

Right Ear	Nasion	Left Ear
Red or Yellow	Blue	Green

***Color coding system may change, dependent on replacement coil supply; all changes will be posted in the MEG Lab for reference.

Subject Preparation: Additional Procedures

• Brainsight Coregistration
• Subject Preparation: EEG
• Subject Preparation: EOG