The OPM-MEG system: Neuroimaging research is moving forward

We are thrilled to announce that the components of the OPM-MEG (Optically Pumped Magnetometer – Magnetoencephalography) system have arrived. The Cerca Magnetics team is installing the system in full swing, and they are doing a great job.

 

This facility will be the first of its kind in Italy, representing a giant leap forward for neuroimaging research and non-invasive technology for real-time brain imaging.

 

MEG systems measure magnetic fields generated by current flow in groups of neurons in the brain, in order to construct images showing moment-to-moment changes in brain activity. However, the OPM-MEG system is expected to outperform conventional MEG systems, because:

 

  • It is worn like a helmet and adapts to any head size.
  • Participants can move around quite freely during a scan. This means that unintentional movements will not affect the acquired data.
  • It is more sensitive and has better spatial precision.

 

The OPM-MEG system is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU – through MUR PNRR funding in the framework of the PNRR project IR00011 – EBRAINS-Italy “European Brain ReseArch INfrastructureS-Italy” (EBRAINS-Italy), Missione 4, “Istruzione e Ricerca” – Componente 2, “Dalla ricerca all’impresa” – Linea di investimento 3.1 del PNRR, Azione 3.1.1 “Creazione di nuove IR o potenziamento di quelle esistenti che concorrono agli obiettivi di Eccellenza Scientifica di Horizon Europe e costituzione di reti” – Area ESFRI H&F, CUP: B51E22000150006.

 

More information will be provided soon through LinkedIn.

 

Bando di selezione PNC2025-01 per il conferimento di n. 1 borsa di ricerca

Title of the project: “Studio della criticità in modelli a larga scala dell’attività cerebrale”, nell’ambito del progetto “Unraveling Brain Dynamics in DMM Patients: A Multi-Modal Imaging Approach Through System Theory (INSIGHTS)” all’interno del progetto MNESYS “A multiscale integrated approach to the study of the nervous system in health and disease” – PE00000006 finanziato dall’Unione Europea – NextGenerationEU su fondi PNRR MUR – M4C2 Spoke 2, CUP: B83C22004960002, sotto la supervisione del Dott. Michele Allegra, in qualità di Responsabile Scientifico.

 

Deadline for application: 24 April 2025 at 1:00 p.m. CEST.

 

Selection announcement

Modello CV [italiano]

CV Template [English]

Decree of Acts Approval and Ranking

 

An open ecosystem for cognitive neuroscience

by Prof. Russell Poldrack, Stanford University, USA

When: September 6, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: It is now widely accepted that openness and transparency are keys to improving the reproducibility of scientific research, but many challenges remain to adoption of these practices. I will discuss the growth of an ecosystem for open science within the field of cognitive neuroscience, focusing on platforms for open data sharing and open source tools for reproducible data analysis. I will also discuss the role of the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS), a community standard for data organization, in enabling this open science ecosystem, and will outline the scientific impacts of these resources.