Faster, more precise brain-mapping for EEG and MEG
Official title: CRSNS: Development of EEG/MEG Source Reconstruction with Fast Multipole Method
Funded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute · NIH-11171622 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Building a faster, more precise way to map where brain signals come from to help people who have EEG or MEG testing, including those with anxiety or depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Worcester Polytechnic Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $194,142 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB035484-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171622 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who undergo EEG or MEG testing—for example patients with anxiety, depression, or other conditions needing brain electrical mapping—would be the ideal candidates for related measurements or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not need EEG/MEG monitoring or who have conditions unrelated to brain electrical activity are unlikely to benefit directly from this methods-focused work.
What this research studies
This project will create a high-speed pipeline that pinpoints where brain activity originates using improved math and computer methods. The team will combine a fast multipole-accelerated boundary element solver with new inverse algorithms and detailed head models. They will also build and test a 256-channel, MEG-compatible dry-electrode EEG system and run verification measurements with MRI, EEG, and MEG at collaborating centers. If successful, these tools aim to produce near real-time, high-resolution brain maps useful for clinical and research visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients could get clearer and quicker EEG/MEG results that better track brain responses during treatments like antidepressant therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Existing source-localization methods are established, but the combination of fast multipole acceleration and a 256-channel MEG-compatible dry-electrode system is novel and has limited prior testing at this scale.
Where this research is happening
-
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Makaroff, Sergey N — Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Study coordinator: Makaroff, Sergey N
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.