MEG is ideal for examining brain function in relationship to behavior and for identifying functional abnormalities such as epilepsy and the physiological effects of head trauma. MRI provides doctors with a picture of the structure of the brain. MRI is ideal for detecting brain damage caused by tumors or strokes. The integration of MEG and MRI data give doctors a detailed picture of the relationship between behavior, brain structure and brain function. Different parts of the brain produce different patterns of magnetic waves.
Diseased brains can produce abnormal magnetic signals.
MEG can determine which brain regions are malfunctioning. MEG can also identify specific foundation regions of the brain such as auditory and visual cortex. Stimuli such as sounds or pictures will activate specific portions of the brain in characteristic sequences. MEG examines neuromagnetic activity changes during this stimulation and pinpoints the location of functional regions. This helps determine if the sequence of activation has been perturbed by disease.