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Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center
Mischer Neuroscience Institute
MEG Imaging
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MEG, or magnetoencephalography, offers patients and physicians the ability to see inside the human brain, to watch in 3-D, real-time imaging the electrical impulses that control language, sight, hearing and memory.
When the condition is epilepsy, MEG pinpoints exact seizure onset locations. When surgery is planned, MEG's precise brain maps help plot optimum surgical paths, minimizing damage to critical sensory, motor or language-specific cortexes. |
MEG is an important new tool for use in diagnosing and treating:
Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center brought the first MEG to Houston in 1997. It remains the only one in clinical use in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
More than 800 patients have undergone MEG at Memorial Hermann, approximately 150 a year.
How does it work?
MEG measures minute magnetic fields produced by the electrical activity of the neurons within the human brain. It's noninvasive and pain free, and patients remain conscious throughout the procedure, enabling physicians to ask them to engage in activities – reading, moving, speaking, listening or remembering – to stimulate important areas within the brain.
The MEG-derived maps help neurosurgeons plan surgical treatments in a way that minimizes the risk of functional deficits. In contrast to other neuro-imaging tools, MEG has the important and unique advantage of tracking brain activity in real time with great resolution.
This allows physicians to track the sequence of activation of brain structures during normal (e.g., word comprehension) or abnormal (e.g., epileptic discharge) functions. MEG can also be used on pediatric patients.
For more information or physician referral, call 713-222-CARE (2273).
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