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Exhibit 10.79

Consultancy Agreement

between

D. Felipe Fernandez Atela
Orquidea No. 32, Madrid

(hereafter referred as "the Consultant")

and

4-D Neuroimaging Inc.
9727 Pacific Heights Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121

(hereafter referred as "the Company")

    Effective March 23, 2001, the Consultant will assume the position as
Chairman of the Board of the Company. For the services to be rendered by the
Consultant in this capacity, both parties agree to the following:

1)The Consultant is entitled as of April 1, 2001 to receive a consultancy fee of
USD 250,000.-p.a., payable in monthly in arrears.

2)Furthermore, the Consultant is entitled to receive an administration
reimbursement expense of USD 60,000.- p.a., payable monthly in arrears.

3)Furthermore, the Consultant is entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses
within reasonable limits.

4)As Member of the Board of Directors, the Consultant will be entitled to the
benefits of the Company's Stock Option Plan.

5)For providing new financing to the Company, the Consultant will be entitled to
receive the following fees:

3%   of the net financing received by the Company, if no other investment
banking fees have to be borne by the Company;
1.5%
 
of the net financing received by the Company, if any investment banking fees
have to be paid by the Company;
0%
 
of the net financing received by the Company, if the financing has been provided
by existing major shareholders (with the exception of La Caixa)

6)For concluding any MEG sales in Spain, the Consultant is entitled to receive a
commission of 5% of the net sales amount received by the Company.

7)This agreement has been concluded for an indefinite period. The agreement can
be cancelled monthly by written notice. Exceptionally, this agreement has a
guaranteed initial period of one year.

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8)At the termination of this agreement, the Consultant is entitled to receive a
termination fee of USD 187,500.-.

9)This agreement is governed by US law; place of jurisdiction is the domicile of
the Company.

Signed and agreed, as of April 2, 2001

4-D Neuroimaging Inc., San Diego   D. Felipe Fernandez Atela
/s/ D. SCOTT BUCHANAN   

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The Company
D. Scott Buchanan
President & CEO
 
/s/ FELIPE FERNANDEZ   

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The Consultant
Felipe Fernandez
on behalf of the Compensation Committee:
/s/ MARTIN EGLI   

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March 20, 2001

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QuickLinks

Consultancy Agreement between D. Felipe Fernandez Atela Orquidea No. 32, Madrid
(hereafter referred as "the Consultant") and 4-D Neuroimaging Inc. 9727 Pacific
Heights Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121 (hereafter referred as "the Company")