Wearable magnetoencephalography for studying parent-infant interactions - PROJECT SUMMARY The proposed work will build on current wearable, optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) methods our group has developed for use in infants, and will further optimize this technology for simultaneous recording of brain activity in caregiver-infant dyads during naturalistic, freely moving, social interactions. While both electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have been used to assess brain function in infants, and EEG has been used to simultaneously assess caregiver-infant dyadic brain function during social interactions, they each have limitations that are addressed by wearable OPM-MEG. Both EEG and MEG allow for high temporal, millisecond, resolution; however, EEG poses challenges for source localization. Although fMRI addresses the source localization issues of EEG, it does not allow for the same naturalistic social paradigms as EEG, and is also loud and expensive. OPM-MEG is non-invasive, quiet, and provides both high temporal resolution and accurate source localization. Despite the strengths of OPMs, there are several outstanding challenges that include 1) optimization of source imaging in caregiver-infant dyadic assessments, as well as 2) developing robust, motion-tolerant OPM-MEG approaches for ambulatory hyperscanning. This proposal will address all of these challenges in caretaker-infant dyads with 3-6-month-old infants, a group where unplanned movements are inevitable. Addressing these issues in this population and paradigm will answer incredibly important technological questions in a context that will translate to many populations where functional neuroimaging is needed to optimize diagnosis and treatment. Further, the ability to assess brain function simultaneously within a dyad with lifespan compliance represents an unprecedented opportunity to gain knowledge about social neuroscience, which is key to being able to recognize clinically relevant patterns of brain function indicative of later emerging and current psychopathology. Once the proposed work is completed, we will have developed optimized protocols, and the highest quality OPM- MEG data ever collected in infants, as well as simultaneous caregiver-infant OPM-MEG collected during naturalistic, physically-touching, social interactions. The innovations represented by this proposal are paramount to moving the field of functional neuroimaging vertically to improve our understanding of neurodevelopment and brain function using salient social interactions and paradigms requiring motion.
