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Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science

KIT-Macquarie Brain Research Laboratory

The KIT/Macquarie Brain research laboratory is equipped with two state of the art MEG systems.

Child in MEGRESEArCH WITH CHILDREN

Equipped with the only MEG system in the world designed for use with children researchers can explore phenomenon such as language acquisition and auditory processing in children who are too young to participate in behavioural studies. We can therefore see how a child's brain responds when they are reading, looking at pictures or listening to speech.

This opens up a whole new world for researchers as information can now be gathered at the earlier stages of development.

Parents of children considering participating in MEG research should read our "Parents" page which has lots of information about our research with young children.

RESEARCH WITH ADULTS

Digitising the shape of an adult headMEG is a brain imaging technique that measures the magnetic fields generated by the human brain whenever information is being processed. The brain's magnetic fields are 100 million times smaller than the earth's magnetic field, and 1 million times smaller that the magnetic fields produced in an urban environment such as North Ryde, so the MEG system is situated in a multi-tonne shielded room with thick metal walls designed to block out the external magnetic fields. Importantly, the MEG system is a 'passive' device and is not harmful in any way.

 

Latest MEG Laboratory News...

Kermit the Frog in MEG

World's first Child MEG launched at Macquarie University

In November 2008, we celebrated the official opening of the world's first whole-head child MEG system, which was installed at the K.I.T-Macquarie Brain Research Laboratory in July 2008.

 

Subject in MEG

Adult MEG System Upgraded

Our adult MEG system has been upgraded from 12-bit resolution to 16-bit resolution. In addition, we have added 32 external channels to accommodate several of our lab user's demands