A background in quantum physics is proving instructive for brain imaging, thanks to its reliance on laser physics and light-matter interaction. “We mastered the technique of working with cold atoms and decided to use it in healthcare,” argues Professor Giovanni Barontini, Professor of Physics at the University of Birmingham.
“We have expertise in the quantum field. We don’t just implement commercial sensors, we develop bespoke solutions for specific neuroscience applications,” he added. “We make our sensors and give them new flavour,” noted Kowalczyk. This customization enables integration with other neurological research methods, expanding the possibilities for brain study.
One innovation involves combining their sensors with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive technique that delivers magnetic pulses to stimulate or suppress brain activity. Kowalczyk says the existing process lacks refinement. “Stimulation is blind because the operator does not have control over the device; they hope that they stimulate the area of the brain they are aiming for”.
The team's enhanced sensors provide real-time feedback during stimulation, allowing operators to target specific brain regions accurately. This enables immediate recording of brain signals following stimulation, offering unprecedented insight into neural responses.
Understanding the misfiring mind
The researchers' work extends to brain connectivity. By combining their sensors with TMS, they can study how brain regions interact, revealing crucial information about hemispheric symmetry and neural network connections—insights previously unknown due to interference from traditional magnetic field measurements.
“When we stimulate one part of the brain, we want to measure what happens in other parts. This cannot be done with any other technique because the strength of the magnetic field destroys every other kind of sensor. We know the physics behind our sensors, and we can make them work with the magnetic field,” said Barontini.
The clinical applications span various neurological conditions. TMS is already an approved treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraines, depression, and smoking cessation when conventional treatments fail. Research is underway to identify its diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy for other neuropsychiatric conditions.
The team's enhanced sensing capabilities could expand these applications by providing detailed information about connectivity changes in various brain disorders, which could help diagnose and treat conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease to epilepsy. “We can measure connectivity when a healthy brain is engaged in various tasks, and then we can see how it changes when there is a disorder,” explained Kowalczyk. “In the long term, this measurement system can be a diagnostic tool for various conditions”, she added.